A series of trialkylsilyl-substituted 2,2′-dithiophene, 4,4′-di-n-hexyl-2,2′-dithiophene, 5,5′-dithiazole, and 2,2′-diselenophene with carbonyl (2a−d) and α-dicarbonyl bridges (3a−d) were prepared from readily available dihalides, using double lithiation followed by trapping with N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl chloride or diethyl oxalate (or N,N-dimethylpiperazine-2,3-dione), respectively. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that the first half-wave reduction potentials for this series of compounds span a wide range, from −1.87 to −0.97 V vs the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple at 0 V (0.1 M nBu4NPF6 in THF). A significant increase of the first half-wave reduction potential (by 0.50−0.67 V) was observed on substitution of the monocarbonyl bridge with α-dicarbonyl. Adiabatic electron affinity (AEA, gas phase) trends determined via density functional theory (DFT) calculations are in good agreement with the electrochemical reduction potentials. UV−vis absorption spectra across the series show a weak absorption band in the visible range, corresponding to the HOMO→LUMO transition within a one-electron picture, followed by a more intense, high-energy transition(s). Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses reveal molecular packing features that balance the interplay of the presence of the bulky substituents, intermolecular π-stacking interactions, and S···O intermolecular contacts, all of which affect the DFT-evaluated intermolecular electronic couplings and effective charge-carrier masses for the crystals of the tricyclic cores.

A one-pot preparation of the 2,2′-dibromo-1,1′-bisheteroarenes 3a−d from bromo-heteroarenes utilizing the sequence of the base-catalyzed halogen dance (BCHD) reaction and CuCl2-promoted oxidative coupling of the in situ formed α-lithio-β-halo-heteroarenes 2a−d provides a convenient access to precursors for the preparation of tricyclic heteroaromatic cores. The structures of 3a,b,d, 6, and 9 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis, and dibromides 3a and 3b were used for the preparation of dithieno-[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]-pyrrole 10a and its selenophene analogue 10b, respectively.