An efficient one pot synthesis of 1,2-bis-( p-aminophenylimino)-acenaphthene, a new compound with significant photoconductive response

Abstract

A significant high photocurrent was observed in a new compound, synthesized by a simple, effective, low cost, and one stage reaction, using as a starting material the acenaphthenquinone, which presents a negligible photoconductivity. Chemical structure of the as-prepared compound was assigned by 1H and 13C NMR techniques, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Photoresponse measurements of the substance prepared, isolated and formulated as thin films on titanium substrates, were performed by a solution deposition technique in a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) under different illumination conditions. The photocurrents observed, significantly high under strong illumination conditions, might be attributed to the structure of the substance prepared which favors the development of an extended π-conjugated system. Thereby, this product may be useful in devices as organic thin film transistors, on/off sensors, etc. On the other hand, as the compound is potentially polymerized, it seems to be a particularly promising monomer for the preparation of organic conductive polymers, very useful for the development of a large variety of optoelectronic products.