<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">CSTA</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Crystal Structure Theory and Applications</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2169-2491</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/csta.2018.73003</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">CSTA-89208</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Chemistry&amp;Materials Science</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Three New -CF3, -CN Containing &lt;i&gt;π&lt;/i&gt; -Conjugated Heteroaromatic Compounds: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Photoelectronic Properties
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Tetsuji</surname><given-names>Moriguchi</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Daisuke</surname><given-names>Yakeya</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Venkataprasad</surname><given-names>Jalli</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Research and Development Division, Sankar Foundation, Visakhapatnam, India</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Kitakyushu, Japan</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>17</day><month>12</month><year>2018</year></pub-date><volume>07</volume><issue>03</issue><fpage>33</fpage><lpage>45</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>26,</day>	<month>July</month>	<year>2018</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>28,</day>	<month>August</month>	<year>2018</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>31,</day>	<month>August</month>	<year>2018</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Three new 
  π
  -conjugated hetero aromatic materials consisting of pyridine 
  <b>3a</b>
  , furan 
  <b>3b</b>
  , and thiophene 
  <b>3c</b>
   have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation reaction.
   
  These molecules have been characterized by <sup>1</sup>H NMR, EI-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Molecule <b>3a</b> crystallized under monoclinic system with space group C2/c,
   
  molecule <b>3b</b> crystallized under triclinic system with space group P-1 and the molecule <b>3c</b> crystalized under triclinic system with space group P-1. The optoelectronic properties of these compounds have been studied.
  
  Molecules <b>3a, 3b</b> and <b>3c</b> showed strong absorption maxima wavelengths at 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively. The molar extinction coefficients (ε) of the compounds <b>3a, 3b</b> and <b>3c</b> suggested that molecule <b>3b</b> has better ability to absorb UV light; molecule <b>3a</b> has better fluorescence intensity than molecule <b>3b </b>and <b>3c</b>. Low energy gaps of HOMO and LUMO energy levels of these compounds suggests that these compounds may be a promising new class of lead compounds for developing high performance semiconductor materials.
   
  Compounds <b>3a</b>, <b>3b</b> and <b>3c</b> has emissions near to blue light, a slight modification of the structures by extending conjugation may find important applications in optoelectronic devices as blue light emitters in organic light-emitting devices for the development of new generation organic semiconducting materials.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Organic Semiconducting Material</kwd><kwd> Knoevenagel Condensation</kwd><kwd> X-Ray  Analysis</kwd><kwd> π-Conjugated Materials</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>π-Conjugated systems are building blocks of organic semiconductors and have been of great interest due to their important applications in organic electronic circuits as semiconducting materials [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref1">1</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref7">7</xref>] . They have been used as semiconducting materials in organic photovoltaic cells, sensors, organic light-emitting diodes and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) due to the offering of low-cost, large-area, and flexible electronic devices [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref8">8</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref9">9</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref10">10</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref11">11</xref>] . N-type semiconductor materials are precise components in ambipolar transistors and complementary circuits [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref12">12</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref13">13</xref>] . However, due to their limitations such as low air stability and difficult in design, synthesis these materials are being less explored. It has been documented that air stability and performance of n-type semiconducting material can be improved by substituting electron withdrawing groups such as fluorine, cyano, carbonyl etc. into the n-type semiconducting material [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref14">14</xref>] . It was reported that incorporation of electron withdrawing groups increases the air stability of their anions due to increase in electron affinity of materials, LUMO energy gap will be reduced [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref15">15</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref16">16</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref17">17</xref>] . Jones and co-workers have explored the n-type air stable perylenediimide derivatives by incorporating cyano (CN) and fluorine (F) substituent [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref18">18</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref19">19</xref>] . Recently, we reported n-type transport characteristics of p-phenylenevinylene derivative of 3’,3’-(1,4-phenylene)bis{2’-(4’’-trifluoromethyl)phenyl}acrylonitorile having two cyano (CN) and two trifluoromethyl (CF<sub>3</sub>) substituents [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref20">20</xref>] . We also reported the synthesis of 2,5-Difluoro-1,4-phenylene-bis{2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acrylonitrile} and fabricated OFET using this compound exhibited good n-channel OTFT properties with high electron mobility [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref21">21</xref>] . Herein, we report the synthesis, crystal structure and photoelectronic properties of three π-conjugated heteroaromatic materials having pyridine, furan, and thiophene and cyano, fluorine as electron withdrawing substituents. We hope this structural-property study will provide better insight for material chemists in designing more efficient and air resistant organic semiconducting materials, which are strongly desired for next generation optoelectronic application.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Experimental</title><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Materials and Methods</title><p>All reagents were purchased from TCI and Sigma Aldrich and used without further purification. All the products were characterized by <sup>1</sup>H NMR, EI-MS and X-ray diffraction analysis. The NMR spectrum was recorded on a Bruker AMX-500 MHz instrument (Bruker, Yokohama, Japan) at room temperature. Absorption spectrum was measured by using JASCO V-550 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer (JASCO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and Fluorescence spectrum was measured by using Hitachi F-2500 Fluorescence Spectrophotometer (Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). X-ray data for the compound were collected at room temperature using a Bruker Apex II KY CCD diffractometer with graphite monochromated MoKα radiation (λ = 0.71073 &#197;) with ω-scan method.</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Synthesis of Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c</title><p>In a first Schlenk vessel 2,6-pyridine dicorboxaldehyde (1a) or 2,5-furan dicorboxaldehyde (1b) or 2,5-thiophene dicorboxaldehyde (1c) (680 mg, 0.40 mmol) and (4-trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile 2 (740 mg, 0.40 mmol) were taken in absolute ethanol (50 mL). In a second Schlenk vessel, sodiumethoxide (0.400 g, 5.76 mmol) and freshly distilled dry pyridine (4.96 mmol, 0.40 mL) were taken in absolute ethanol (50 mL). The mixture was mixed and heated to reflux for 3 hours. Then, pyridine and volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was repeatedly extracted with small portions (15 mL) of dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with water, dried over anhydrous MgSO<sub>4</sub>, and then, filtered through a syringe filter. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to leave the residue affording the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c in quantitative yield.</p><p>3a <sup>1</sup>H NMR (CDCl<sub>3</sub>, 400 MHz) δ = 7.75 (4H, d, Ar-H), 7.78 (2H, s, CH=CN), 7.89 (4H, d, Ar-H), 7.98 1H, q, Ar-H), 8.04 (2H, s, Ar-H), 8.05 (2H, s-m, Ar-H); EI-MS: M<sup>+</sup>, 468.</p><p>3b <sup>1</sup>H NMR (CDCl<sub>3</sub>, 400 MHz) δ = 7.40 (2H, s, Ar-H), 7.52 (2H, s, CH=CN), 7.72 (2H, d, Ar-H), 7.80 (2H, d, Ar-H); EI-MS: M<sup>+</sup>, 457.</p><p>3c <sup>1</sup>H NMR (CDCl<sub>3</sub>, 400 MHz) δ = 7.72 (6H, m, Ar-H), 7.79 (4H, d, Ar-H), 7.88 (2H, s, CH=CN); EI-MS: M<sup>+</sup>, 473.</p></sec><sec id="s2_3"><title>2.3. Single-Crystal X-Ray Analysis and Structure Determination</title><p>Crystallographic and structural refinement data for 3a, 3b and 3c summarized in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref>. Single crystals of 3a, 3b and 3c were easily obtained at room temperature from a solution of dichloromethane using slow diffusion technique. Crystals of 3a, 3b and 3c measuring good dimensions were mounted on a glass fiber. The data were collected on a Bruker APEX II KY CCD diffractometer by using a graphite-monochromatized Mo/Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 &#197;) and a nominal crystal-to-area detector distance of ca. 83 mm.</p><p>APEX2 software was used for preliminary determination of the unit cell. Determination of integral intensities [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref22">22</xref>] and unit cell refinement were performed using SAINT program [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref23">23</xref>] . And, data were corrected for absorption effects with SADABS using the empirical technique [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref24">24</xref>] . The structures were solved by the SHELXS-2014/7 direct method, and subsequent structure refinements were performed using SHELXL-2014/7.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results and Discussion</title><p>The three n-type semiconducting materials 3a, 3b and 3c have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of pyridine dicorboxaldehyde 1a, furan dicorboxaldehyde 1b, thiophene dicorboxaldehyde 1c with 4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl acrylonitrile 2 in the presence of sodium ethoxide (Scheme 1, Scheme 2). Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c have been characterized with <sup>1</sup>H NMR and EI-MS.</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Crystal data and structure refinements for 3a, 3b and 3c</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >parameters measured</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >3a</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >3b</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >3c</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Empirical Formula</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>25</sub>H<sub>13</sub>F<sub>6</sub>N<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>24</sub>H<sub>12</sub>F<sub>6</sub>N<sub>2</sub>O</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2(C<sub>24</sub>H<sub>12</sub>F<sub>6</sub>N<sub>2</sub>S)・C6H<sub>6</sub></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Formula Weight (g・mol<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >469.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >458.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1026.94</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Crystal shape, color</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Prism, yellow<sub> </sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Needle, colorless</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Prism, colorless</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Temperature</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >120 K</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >90 K</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >120 K</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Radiation type</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mo Kα</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mo Kα</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mo Kα</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Wavelength (&#197;)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.7107</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.7107</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.7107</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Crystal system</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Monoclinic</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Triclinic</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Triclinic</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Space group</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C2/c</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >P-1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >P-1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Unit cell dimensions</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >a = 11.2641 (15) &#197; b = 18.568 (2) &#197; c = 10.0628 (15) &#197; α = 90˚ β =103.960 (1)˚ γ = 90˚</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >a = 4.470 (5) &#197; b = 13.016 (15) &#197; c = 16.904 (19) &#197; α = 79.018 (11)˚ β = 88.236 (12)˚ γ = 83.602 (11)˚</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >a = 7.5572 (14) &#197; b = 15.746 (3) &#197; c = 19.641 (4) &#197; α = 84.754 (2)˚ β = 80.546 (2)˚ γ = 80.620 (2)˚</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Volume</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2042.5 (5) &#197;<sup>3</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >959.4 (19) &#197;<sup>3</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2269.6 (7) &#197;<sup>3</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Z</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Calculated density (Mg・m<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.526</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.587</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.503</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Absorption coefficient mm<sup>−1</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.130</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.138</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.212</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F(000)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >952</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >464</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1044</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Crystal Size (mm)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.30 &#215; 0.20 &#215; 0.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.20 &#215; 0.15 &#215; 0.10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.40 &#215; 0.20 &#215; 0.20</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Theta range for data collection</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.2˚ to 25˚</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.23˚ to 23.91˚</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.1˚ to 25.0˚</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Limiting indices</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−13 &lt; h &lt; 13 −22&lt; k &lt;22 −11 &lt; l &lt; 11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−5 &lt; h &lt; 5 −14&lt; k &lt;14 −19 &lt; l &lt; 19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−8 &lt; h &lt; 8 −18&lt; k &lt; 18 −23 &lt; l &lt; 23</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Reflections collected/unique</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9738/1807 [Rint = 0.023]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7410/2919 [Rint = 0.046]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21937/7990 [Rint = 0.033]</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Completeness to theta (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >99.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >99.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >99.2</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><disp-formula id="scirp.89208-formula1"><graphic  xlink:href="//html.scirp.org/file/1-2540111x2.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Scheme 1. Schematic representation of synthesis of compound 3a.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.89208-formula2"><graphic  xlink:href="//html.scirp.org/file/1-2540111x3.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Scheme 2. Schematic representation of synthesis of compound 3b and 3c.</p><p>Further to confirm the molecular structures of molecules 3a, 3b and 3c, suitable crystals for X-ray diffraction analysis were obtained by the slow evaporation of dichloromethane solution using slow diffusion method. The crystallographic details are summarized in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref>. The compound 3a crystallizes with monoclinic crystal system, space group C2/c. The molecular structure of 3a was depicted in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>.</p><p>The asymmetric unit of the title compound C<sub>25</sub>H<sub>13</sub>F<sub>6</sub>N<sub>3</sub>, contains one-half of the formula unit. The molecular structure appears to be planar from the top view. But, from the side view we can clearly see that three aromatic rings are slightly distorted from the planar geometry. Two aromatic ring planes, A (defined by C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12) and B (defined by N1, C1, C2, C3, C2, C1) were slightly leaned and the plane angles between two aromatic rings is 2.58˚ as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>. The two cyano groups, which are located in the same direction causes a deviation from planarity of the molecule 3a. Triple bond lengths of the cyano group was 1.145 (2) &#197; for C6N2. On the other hand, the bond angle consisting cyanoethenyl C-CN triple bond was slightly twisted, the angles is 173.95 (2)˚ for C5-C6-N2.</p><p>Crystal packing of the molecule 3a was also illustrated in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>. Intermolecular short contacts of the molecule 3a were listed in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>. The molecular packing of the molecule 3a has layer like geometry. In the crystal packing diagram, C-H∙∙∙N and C∙∙∙C short contacts between the molecules generated three dimensional molecular networks.</p><p>The compound 3b crystallizes with triclinic crystal system, space group P-1. The molecular structure and packing diagram of 3b was depicted in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>.</p><p>The molecule 3b appears to be planar from the top. But, from the side view clearly appears that molecule 3b is a strained one. Three aromatic ring planes, A (defined by C18, C19, C20, C21, C22, C23), B (defined by C1, C2, C3, C4, O1) and C (defined by C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13) were slightly leaned and the plane angles between three aromatic ring moieties are 5.67˚ for A-B, 25.27˚ for</p><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Selected intermolecular short contacts (&#197;) of the molecule 3a</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Short contacts (between the sidecolumns)</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Short contacts (between molecules in the column)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >N2-H4 N2-H9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.695 2.596</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C4-C4 C4-C1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.341 3.372</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>A-C and 5.67˚ for B-C respectively as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>. The plane angel between the end phenyl rings is 25.27˚, this suggests that molecule 3b is a strained one. Triple bond lengths of the cyano groups were 1.137 (4) &#197; for C7N1 and 1.139 (4) &#197; for C17N2, respectively. The bond angle consisting cyanoethenyl C-CN triple bonds are slightly twisted, the angles are 177.78 (4)˚ for C6-C7-N1 and 179.2 (4)˚ for C16-C17-N2, respectively.</p><p>Crystal packing of the molecule 3b was also illustrated in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>. Intermolecular short contacts of the molecule 3b were listed in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>. The molecular</p><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Selected intermolecular short contacts (&#197;) of the molecule 3b</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Short contacts (between the sidecolumns)</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Short contacts (between molecules in the column)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F6-H3 H12-N1 F2-H11 F2-H6 F3-F3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.510 2.702 2.491 2.595 2.754</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C4-C5 C5-C13 C12-F3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.367 3.370 3.145</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>packing of the molecule 3b has layer like geometry. In the crystal packing diagram C-H∙∙∙N, C-H∙∙∙F and C∙∙∙C short contacts between the molecules generated three dimensional molecular networks.</p><p>The compound 3c crystallizes with triclinic crystal system, space group P-1 with two moleucles and one benzene solvent molecule in the unit cell. The molecular structure and packing diagram of 3c was depicted in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref>.</p><p>The molecule 3c appears to be perfect planar from the top and side views. Three aromatic ring planes, A (defined by C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13), B (defined by C1, C2, C3, C4, S1) and C (defined by C18, C19, C20, C21, C22, C23) were slightly leaned (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>) and the planeangles between three phenyl moieties are 2.11˚ for A-B, 6.42˚ for A-C and 7.92˚ for B-C respectively. The plane angel between the end phenyl rings is 7.92˚, this suggests that molecule 3b is less strained one than molecules 3a and 3b. Due to this reason electron carrier mobility of molecule 3c seems to be relatively good compared with the compounds 3a and 3b. Triple bond lengths of the cyano groups were 1.145 (3) &#197; for C17N1 and 1.147 (4) &#197; for C7N2, respectively. The bond angle consisting cyanoethenyl C-CN triple bonds are slightly twisted, the angles are 178.88 (2)˚ for C16-C17-N1 and 177.98 (2)˚ for C6-C7-N2, respectively.</p><p>Crystal packing of the molecule 3c was also illustrated in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>. Intermolecular short contacts of the molecule 3c were listed in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>. In the crystal packing diagram C-H∙∙∙N, C-H∙∙∙F and C∙∙∙C short contacts between the molecules generated three dimensional molecular networks.</p><p>Further, the photophysical properties of molecules 3a, 3b and 3c, the UV-Vis</p><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Selected intermolecular short contacts (&#197;) of the molecule 3c</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Short contacts (between the sidecolumns)</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Short contacts (between molecules in the column)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >H2-N3 N2-H27 H3-N4 N1-H36 H23-F7 N2-H53 H9-C51 F11-H34 H43-C53 H37-C50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.621 2.433 2.720 2.626 2.597 2.705 2.878 2.508 2.792 2.855</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >F3-C19 C20-F8 C12-F3 F12-C33 C29-C43 F11-C34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.157 3.157 3.145 3.109 3.383 3.021</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>absorption and Fluorescence emission of the molecules 3a, 3b and 3c were measured in dichloromethane solution (1 &#215; 10<sup>−5</sup> mol/L), and their corresponding spectra were shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref>, respectively. The molecules 3a, 3b and 3c displayed absorption maxima wavelength at 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively.</p><p>The molar extinctinction coefficients (ε) of the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c were calculated as 2.4 &#215; 10<sup>4</sup> (300 nm), 4.9 &#215; 10<sup>4</sup> (419 nm) and 4.1 &#215; 10<sup>4</sup> (418 nm), L⋅mol<sup>−1</sup>⋅cm<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. As a basic rule, the molecule, which has higher extended π-conjugation shows better UV light absorbance. Conversely, molecule 3a, which has higher conjugated π-system has less absorbance than molecules 3b and 3c. This may be due to the relatively highly strained geometry of molecule 3a resulted in less π-orbital overlap. Among three molecules, 3b has better</p><p>ability to absorb UV light because two cyano groups in molecule 3b are far away to each other may be facilitated the effective π-orbital overlap.</p><p>The emission spectra of the molecules 3a, 3b and 3c were recorded in dichloromethane solution (1 &#215; 10<sup>−5</sup> mol/L), and their emission spectra is shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref>. Emission spectra of the complexes were measured by exciting the complexes at their absorption maxima wavelengths 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively. Among three molecules, 3a has better fluorescence ability than molecule 3b and 3c. This may be due to the extended conjugation of molecule 3a due to pyridine moity than molecule 3b and 3c, which has furan and thiophene moity in their structures. Noteworthy points from the structural and photophysical properties are these compounds have emissions near to blue light. Further with slight modification of these structures by extending conjugation may find important applications in optoelectronic devices, such as blue emitters in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) for the development of new generation organic semiconducting materials.</p><p>Further, HOMO and LUMO energy level calculations of the π-systems of the compounds were carried out using density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP 6 - 31 G(d) level on SPARTAN16 Suite program [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.89208-ref25">25</xref>] . Atomic coordinate data (x, y, z) of the X-ray analysis were used in calculations. The calculation results were HOMO −6.52 eV, LUMO −2.52 eV for 3a, HOMO −6.05 eV, LUMO −3.07 eV for 3b and HOMO −5.93 eV, LUMO −3.93 eV for 3c (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref>). The energy gaps were 3.79 eV for 3a, 3.88 eV for 3b and 3.73 eV for 3c. The low energy gaps suggest that that these compounds may be a promising new class of lead compounds for developing high performance semiconductor materials.</p></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusion</title><p>Three new -CF3, -CN containing π-conjugated heteroaromatic compounds consisting of pyridine 3a, furan 3b, and thiophene 3c have been synthesized and these compounds have been characterized by <sup>1</sup>H NMR, EI-MS and X-ray diffraction analysis. Molecules 3a, 3b and 3c showed strong absorption maxima wavelengths at 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively. The molar extinction coefficients (ε) of the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c indicated molecule 3b has better ability to absorb UV light, molecule 3a has better fluorescence intensity than molecule 3b and 3c. Low energy gaps of HOMO and LUMO energy levels of these compounds suggest that these compounds may be a promising new class of lead compounds for developing high performance semiconductor materials. Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c has emissions near to blue light, a slight modification of the structures by extending conjugation may find important applications in optoelectronic devices as blue light emitters in organic light-emitting devices.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>We are grateful to the Center for Instrumental Analysis, Kyushu Institute of Technology (KITCIA) for the electron impact mass, <sup>1</sup>HNMR spectra and X-ray analysis. This research was financially supported by JSPS KAKENH Grant Number 15K05611.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Moriguchi, T., Yakeya, D. and Jalli, V. (2018) Three New -CF3, -CN Containing π-Conjugated Heteroaromatic Compounds: Synthesis, Crystal structure and Photoelectronic Properties. Crystal Structure Theory and Applications, 7, 33-45. https://doi.org/10.4236/csta.2018.73003</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.89208-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Wang, C., Dong, H., Hu, W., Liu, Y. and Zhu, D. (2012) Semiconducting π-Conjugated Systems in Field-Effect Transistors: A Material Odyssey of Organic Electronics. Chemical Reviews, 112, 2208-2267. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr100380z</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Anthony, J.E. (2006) Functionalized Acenes and Heteroacenes for Organic Electronics. Chemical Reviews, 106, 5028-5048. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr050966z</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref3"><label>3</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Blouin, N. and Leclerc, M. (2008) Poly(2,7-carbazole)s: Structure-Property Relationships. Accounts of Chemical Research, 41, 1110-1119.   
https://doi.org/10.1021/ar800057k</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref4"><label>4</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Pron, A., Gawrys, P., Zagorska, M., Djurado, D. and Demadrille, R. (2010) Electroactive Materials for Organicelectronics: Preparation Strategies, Structural Aspects and Characterization Techniques. Chemical Society Reviews, 39, 577-2632. 
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2010/cs/b907999h#!divAbstract</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref5"><label>5</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Wu, W., Liu, Y. and Zhu, D. (2010) π-Conjugated Molecules with Fused Rings for Organic Field-Effect Transistors: Design, Synthesis and Applications. Chemical Society Reviews, 39, 1489-1502. 
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2010/cs/b813123f/unauth#!divAbstract  
https://doi.org/10.1039/B813123F</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref6"><label>6</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Yao, J., Yu, C., Liu, Z., Luo, H., Yang, Y., Zhang, G. and Zhang, D. (2016) Significant Improvement of Semiconducting Performance of the Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Quaterthio Phene Conjugated Polymer through Side-Chain Engineering via Hydrogen-Bonding. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138, 173.   
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b09737</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref7"><label>7</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Sutton, C., Risko, C. and Bredas, J.-L. (2016) Noncovalent Intermolecular Interactions in Organic Electronic Materials: Implications for the Molecular Packing vs Electronic Properties of Acenes. Chemistry of Materials, 28, 3-16.  
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b03266</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref8"><label>8</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Aleshin, A.N., Lee, J.Y., Chu, S.W., Kim, J.S. and Park, Y.W. (2004) Mobility Studies of Field-Effect Transistor Structures Based on Anthracene Single Crystals. Applied Physics Letters, 84, 5383-5385. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1767282</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref9"><label>9</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Sokolov, A.N., Roberts, M.E. and Bao, Z. (2009) Fabrication of Low-Cost Electronic Biosensors. Materials Today, 12, 12-20. 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702109702470  
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-7021(09)70247-0</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref10"><label>10</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Kelley, T.W., Boardman, L.D., Dunbar, T.D., Muyres, D.V., Pellerite, M.J. and Smith, Y.P. (2003) High-Performance OTFTs Using Surface-Modified Alumina Dielectrics. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 107, 5877-5881.  
https://doi.org/10.1021/jp034352e</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref11"><label>11</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Garnier, F., Yassar, A., Hajlaoui, R., Horowitz, G., Deloffre, F., Servet, B., Ries, S. and Alnot, P. (1993) Molecular Engineering of Organic Semiconductors: Design of Self-Assembly Properties in Conjugated Thiopheneoligomers. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 115, 8716-8721. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00072a026</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref12"><label>12</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Zaumseil, J. and Sirringhaus, H. (2007) Electron and Ambipolar Transport in Organic Field-Effect Transistors. Chemical Reviews, 107, 1296-1323.  
https://doi.org/10.1021/cr0501543</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref13"><label>13</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Cornil, J., Bredas, J.L., Zaumseil, J. and Sirringhaus, H. (2007) Ambipolar Transport in Organic Conjugated Material. Advanced Materials, 19, 1791-1799.  
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.200602922</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref14"><label>14</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Newman, C.R., Frisbie, C.D., da Silva Filho, D.A., Bredas, J.-L., Ewbank, P.C. and Mann, K.R. (2004) Introduction to Organic Thin Film Transistors and Design of n-Channel Organic Semiconductors. Chemistry of Materials, 16, 4436-4451.   
https://doi.org/10.1021/cm049391x</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref15"><label>15</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Swartz, C.R., Parkin, S.R., Bullock, J.E., Anthony, J.E., Mayer, A.C. and Malliaras, G.G. (2005) Synthesis and Characterization of Electron-Deficient Pentacenes. Organic Letters, 7, 3163-3166. https://doi.org/10.1021/ol050872b</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref16"><label>16</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Kikuzawa, Y., Mori, T. and Takeuchi, H. (2007) Synthesis of 2,5,8,11,14,17-   Hexafluoro-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene for n-Type Organic Field-Effect Transistors. Organic Letters, 9, 4817-4820.  
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ol702158a  
https://doi.org/10.1021/ol702158a</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref17"><label>17</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Song, D., Wang, H.B., Zhu, F., Yang, J.L., Tian, H.K., Geng, Y.H. and Yan, D.H. (2008) Phthalocyanato Tin(IV)Dichloride: An Air-Stable, High-Performance, n-Type Organic Semiconductor with a High Field-Effect Electron Mobility. Advanced Materials, 20, 2142-2144. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.200702439 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.200702439</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref18"><label>18</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Jones, B.A., Ahrens, M.J., Yoon, M.-H., Facchetti, A., Marks, T.J. and Wasielewski, M.R. (2004) High-Mobilityair-Stable n-Type Semiconductors with Processing Versatility: Dicyanoperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximides). Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 43, 6363-6366. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200461324 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.200461324</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref19"><label>19</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Jones, B.A., Facchetti, A., Wasielewski, M.R. and Marks, T.J. (2007) Tuning Orbital Energetics in Arylene Diimide Semiconductors. Materials Design for Ambient Stability of n-Type Charge Transport. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 129, 15259-15278. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja075242e</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref20"><label>20</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Nagamatsu, S., Moriguchi, T., Nagase, T., Oku, S., Kuramoto, K., Takashima, W., Okauchi, T., Mizoguchi, K., Hayase, S. and Kaneto, K. (2009) A Steady Operation of n-Type Organic Thin-Film Transistors with Cyano-Substituted Distyrylbenzene Derivative. Applied Physics Express, 2, Article ID: 101502. 
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1143/APEX.2.101502  
https://doi.org/10.1143/APEX.2.101502</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref21"><label>21</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Nagamatsu, S., Oku, S., Kuramoto, K., Moriguchi, T., Takashima, W., Okauchi, T. and Hayase, S. (2014) Long-Term Air-Stable n-Channel Organic Thin-Film Transistors Using 2,5-Difluoro-1,4-phenylene-bis{2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] acrylonitrile}. Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces, 6, 3847-3852. 
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/am404549e  
https://doi.org/10.1021/am404549e</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref22"><label>22</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">(2009) APEX2 Version 2009.9. Bruker AXS Inc., Tokyo.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref23"><label>23</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">(2009) SAINT Version 7.68A. Bruker AXS Inc., Tokyo.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref24"><label>24</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Sheldrick, G.M.A. (2008) Short History of SHELX. Acta Crystallographica A, 64, 112-122. https://doi.org/10.1107/S0108767307043930</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.89208-ref25"><label>25</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Halgren, T.A. (1996) Merck Molecular Force Field. I. Basis, Form, Scope, Parameterization, and Performance of MMFF94. Journal of Computational Chemistry, 17, 490-519.  
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-987X(199604)17:5/6&lt;490::AID-JCC1&gt;3.0.CO;2-P</mixed-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>