Convergent Synthesis of Near-Infrared Absorbing, "Push-Pull", Bisthiophene-Substituted, Zinc(II) Phthalocyanines and their Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Zinc(II) phthalocyanine dyes that contain triarylamine-terminated bisthiophene and hexylbisthiophene groups have been synthesized by a convergent approach by using carboxytriiodoZnPc as a precursor. Further transformation of the iodo groups by a Pd-catalyzed reaction allowed easy preparation of further extended p-conjugated carboxyZnPcs. These dyes have been used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, which exhibit a panchromatic response and moderate overall efficiencies.