Regioselective functionalization of core-persubstituted perylene diimides.

Regioselective functionalization of core per-substituted perylene diimides has been achieved efficiently based on a new versatile building block, named tetrabromotetrachloro-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (Br4Cl4-PTCDA), which affords a series of novel chromophores with impressive optoelectronic properties. Direct palladium-catalyzed fourfold intramolecular ring fusion affords successfully unique propeller-shaped biscarbazole[2,3-b]carbazole diimides with six annulated rings.