Synthesis of highly-soluble push-pull perylenemonoimide derivatives by regioselective peri-functionalization for switchable memory applications.

A regioselective synthetic protocol is developed via tetrabromination of perylenemonoimide (PMI) which leads to a series of PMI derivatives. The push-pull characteristics of these derivatives are established by spectroscopic and theoretical investigations. Finally, the semiconducting properties of the PMI dyes are utilized for the development of a switchable memory device.