Polycyclic imide derivatives: synthesis and effective tuning of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels through molecular engineering.

A series of fluoranthene-fused imide derivatives were facilely developed through a Diels-Alder reaction followed by decarbonylation. The investigation of their photophysical and electrochemical properties demonstrated that their LUMO levels were effectively tuned from -3.2 to -3.8 eV through the introduction of a fused imide unit, which provides a platform to design new air-stable and solution-processable n-type materials.