Excited state character of Cibalackrot-type compounds interpreted in terms of Huckel-aromaticity: a rationale for singlet fission chromophore design†

The exact energies of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states in organic chromophores are crucial to their performance in optoelectronic devices. The possibility of utilizing singlet fission to enhance the performance of photovoltaic devices has resulted in a wide demand for tuneable, stable organic chromophores with wide S-1-T-1 energy gaps (>1 eV). Cibalackrot-type compounds were recently considered to have favorably positioned excited state energies for singlet fission, and they were found to have a degree of aromaticity in the lowest triplet excited state (T-1). This work reports on a revised and deepened theoretical analysis taking into account the excited state Huckel-aromatic (instead of Baird-aromatic) as well as diradical characters, with the aim to design new organic chromophores based on this scaffold in a rational way starting from qualitative theory. We demonstrate that the substituent strategy can effectively adjust the spin distribution on the chromophore and thereby manipulate the excited state energy levels. Additionally, the improved understanding of the aromatic characters enables us to demonstrate a feasible design strategy to vary the excited state energy levels by tuning the number and nature of Huckel-aromatic units in the excited state. Finally, our study elucidates the complications and pitfalls of the excited state aromaticity and antiaromaticity concepts, highlighting that quantitative results from quantum chemical calculations of various aromaticity indices must be linked with qualitative theoretical analysis of the character of the excited states.

Automated summary

This study presents a revised theoretical analysis to design new organic chromophores based on Huckel aromaticity, showing the potential of manipulating excited state energy levels by adjusting substituents. Improved understanding of aromatic characters allows for a feasible design strategy to vary excited state energy levels by tuning the number and nature of Huckel-aromatic units. The complications and pitfalls of excited state aromaticity and antiaromaticity concepts are highlighted, emphasizing the need to link quantitative results with qualitative theoretical analysis.