A simple route toward the synthesis of bisbenzothiadiazole derivatives.

A simple and efficient route toward the synthesis of 4,4'-bis(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) and 7,7'-dibromo-4,4'-bis(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) has been developed. Oligomers were synthesized with bisbenzothiadiazole units either at the periphery or core, and each oligomer was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Both crystal structures display supramolecular interactions between the conjugated backbones, although the former, bearing two bisbenzothiadiazole units, has extended interactions within layers that engage all of the thiadiazole rings.