Towards the Synthesis of a Swallowtailed Perylene Monoimide

Abstract

This project was initiated in conjunction with Dr. Justin Youngblood from the University of North Texas. The goal was to synthesize a molecule to be used in solar cell testing. The target molecule involved combining donor and acceptor groups to make a combination that would be able to transfer electricity in a unilateral direction to increase efficiency in solar cells. My project involved the donor portion, a perylene monoimide donor with a long alkyl “swallowtail” to impart solubility. While the final molecule was not synthesized, the proposed procedure for making such a molecule was improved upon. A perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride was decarboxylated using an autoclave, and an amine synthesis procedure was attempted. Future research into this molecule will be greatly assisted by the findings of this project, and potential alterations are discussed