A sulfur-containing hetero-octulene: synthesis, host–guest properties, and transistor applications

Abstract

A heterocycloarene derivative (S-Octulene) possessing two sulfur atoms was conveniently synthesized through Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed cyclization from a macrocyclic tetramethoxyethenylated precursor. The physical properties of S-Octulene and its supramolecular host–guest interaction with C₆₀ and C₇₀ were investigated by fluorescence titration and ¹H NMR. The solution-processed organic field-effect transistor (OFET) measurements demonstrated that S-Octulene behaved as a p-type semiconductor with a hole mobility exceeding 0.01 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our findings pave a new path to design novel heterocycloarenes for the development of host–guest chemistry and organic semiconductors.