Formalizing structure-property relationships of highly-oxidizing and weakly-reducing organic cyanoarene photocatalysts

Abstract

We investigated three new highly-oxidizing cyanoarene photocatalysts with modulated donors and acceptors via electrochemical and photophysical characterization. Compared with previous reports, we determined that the chlorinated acceptor shortens delayed fluorescent lifetimes and increases the excited-state oxidation potential. Electron-deficient donors both weaken reduction and strengthen oxidation, which contradicts established design principles.