Novel 2,7-linked carbazole trimers as model compounds for conjugated carbazole polymers

In this paper we present a new synthesis for N-alkylated 2,7-dibromocarbazoles, from which 2,7-linked carbazole trimers have been synthesized by Suzuki cross coupling. The compounds were characterized regarding their thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties and compared to analogous fluorene trimers, which also have been prepared by Suzuki reactions. The carbazole and fluorene trimers exhibit thermal stabilities of more than 300 degreesC and are able to form molecular glasses. Only one of the carbazole trimers is crystalline. Both carbazole and fluorene trimers exhibit a bright blue fluorescence with a maximum at 393 nm and show similar absorption characteristics. Cyclovoltammetric experiments revealed the electrochemical stability of the fluorene trimers. Their HOMO and LUMO levels are at -5.6 and -2.5 eV, respectively. In contrast to the fluorenes, the 2,7-linked carbazole trimers showed nonreversible oxidations in the CV experiments.