A golden access to polyacene precursors
Technology Status: TRL 3 (tested in laboratory) PATENT GRANTED
Sectors of Application: Semi-conductors, organic electronics, material sciences, nanosciences
Introduction
Polyacenes are an important class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons constituted by linearly fused benzene rings. These compounds exhibit interesting electronic properties due to their high degree of conjugation which allows electrons to flow across the molecule and for that are considered to be central to the development of the future generation of (opto)electronic devices.polyacenos
Description of solution
Most commonly used acenes are tetracene (n=2) and pentacene (n=3). While longer linear acenes are expected to exhibit improved properties, their preparation has however proved highly challenging due to the instability of the formed products.
Professor Antonio M. Echavarren has recently developed a new strategy for the preparation of long linear polyacenes based on the on-surface dehydrogenation of a partially saturated linear polyacene compound readily accessible through available raw materials and transition metal catalysis (gold and palladium mediated processes).
Advantages and unique selling points
- Available catalyst: Commercial organometallic catalysts are used.
- Mild conditions: The key reactions of the process are carried out in mild conditions. They are carried at low temperature and low catalyst loadings.
- Suitable to further functionalization: The method exhibits a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance, which makes it suitable for further functionalization of reaction substrates
- Several applications: Polyacenes have strong potential as supercapacitators, for applications in OFETs, TFTs, etc.
Status of Technology
A proof of concept has been achieved in a laboratory scale through the synthesis of long acenes (13,15 and 17 units).
Commercial exploitation and type of partnership sought
Various models of exploitation can be envisioned:
Partner for joint development and commercialisation of applications is sought as the custom synthesis of acene precursors for “practical applications”.
Flexible licensing strategy related to development milestones.
IP Situation
A US patent has been granted:
1-Title of the patent: Method for the preparation of a partially hydrogenated polyacene and an intermediate thereof.
-Application numbers: WO/2018/019436
-Applicant: Fundació Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ)
-Inventors: Antonio M. Echavarren. Ruth Dorel and Paul MCGonigal,
-Priority date: 26 June 2016
References