Synthesis and spectroscopy of anthracene-containing linear and ‘T’-shaped π-conjugated ligands

A range of new π-conjugated ethynyl- and diethynyl-benzene ligands has been synthesised and their spectroscopic characterisation carried out, most notably via IR and 1H NMR. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for three of these ligands and one unusual ruthenium complex. Both the 4-ethynyl- and 2,5-diethynyl-benzene cores of these compounds have been functionalised through organic transformations by addition of an 9-anthracenyl. This has been attached via a range of linker moieties that vary in both their length and degree of π-conjugation. This has given rise to two groups of compounds with either a linear, e.g., 9-(2-(4-ethynylphenyl)ethynediyl)anthracene and 9-(2-(4-ethynylphenyl)ethyl)anthracene, or ‘T’-shaped morphologies, e.g., 9-(2-(2,5-diethylnylphenyl)ethyl)anthracene.