1,6- and 1,7-regioisomers of dinitro- and diamino-substituted perylene bisimides: synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties

1,6- and 1,7-regioisomers of dinitro- (1,6-3 and 1,7-3) and diamino-substituted perylene bisimides (1,6-1 and 1,7-1) were synthesized. The regioisomers 1,6-3 and 1,7-3 were successfully separated by high performance liquid chromatography and characterized by 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the reduction of 1,6-3 and 1,7-3 afforded the corresponding diaminoperylene bisimides 1,6-1 and 1,7-1, respectively. This is the first time 1,6-regioisomers of dinitro- and diamino-substituted perylene bisimides are obtained in pure form. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of 1,6-3 and 1,7-3 were found to be almost the same. However, the regioisomers 1,6-1 and 1,7-1 exhibit significant differences in their optical characteristics. The absorption spectrum of 1,6-1 covers a larger part of the visible region compared to that of 1,7-1. Upon excitation, 1,6-1 also show larger dipole moment change than that of 1,7-1. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations are reported on these dyes in order to rationalize their electronic structure and absorption spectra.