Ultrafast electron transfer reactions initiated by excited CT states of push–pull perylenes

Two new chromophores that absorb in the visible spectrum, the 9-(N-pyrrolidinyl)- and 9-(N-piperidinyl)perylene-3,4-dicarboximides, 5PMI and 6PMI, respectively, were synthesized and shown to possess lowest excited singlet states with about 70% charge transfer (CT) character. Changing the ring size of the cyclic amine from 5 to 6 significantly changes the energies of the CT states, as well as the redox potentials of the chromophores. These chromophores were linked to pyromellitimide (PI) and 1,8:4,5-naphthalenediimide (NI) electron acceptors using a single N-N bond between their respective imides to yield the corresponding donor-acceptor dyads 5PMI-PI, 5PMI-NI, 6PMI-PI, and 6PMI-NI. The donors and acceptors in these molecules are positioned relative to one another in a rod-like arrangement at fixed distances and restricted orientations. The rates of charge separation and recombination were measured using transient absorption spectroscopy. These chromophores were also used to prepare rigid donor-acceptor triads 5PMI-PI-NI and 6PMI-PI-NI, which display one- or two-step electron transfer mechanisms that depend on solvent polarity. These compounds exhibit a broad range of structure and media driven changes in electron transfer mechanism.