Light stimulated donor-acceptor forms charge transfer complex in chlorinated solvents

Control over charge transfer, energy or electron transfer process in a donor-acceptor system is rather significant for organic electronics. Although, numerous reports emphasize the balancing between the strength of donor and acceptor direct the specific phenomenon, however, stimuli-responsive D-A system are very few till now. Thereby, we have selected the thianthrene and porphyrin as an electron donor and acceptor for designing the D-A systems and investigated their physico-chemical properties under external stimuli. Herein, free base and metalated thianthrene-porphyrin-based derivatives such as P-TA and P Zn -TA were designed and synthesized by using Suzuki coupling reaction followed by metalation. Photophysical analysis of two derivatives in chlorinated solvents revealed that charge transfer complex formation whilst application of light as an external stimulus. Cyclic voltammetry studies depict the ease of oxidation suggests that efficient electron transfer from donor to acceptor via CT complex. Therefore, these results promote the design of novel thianthrene based D-A systems for organic light-emitting diode applications. Graphic abstract We have developed thianthrene-porphyrin based donor-acceptors systems and their photophysical and electrochemical properties proved the charge transfer phenomenon in chlorinated solvents whilst light was used as an external stimulus.