Halochromic Phenolate Perylene Bisimides with Unprecedented NIR Spectroscopic Properties

CC coupling of 1,7-dibromoperylene bisimide with sterically hindered 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol by a carbon nucleophilic substitution reaction in the absence of transition-metal catalysts gave novel halochromic perylene bisimides (see picture). The corresponding phenolate ions of these compounds exhibit unprecedented NIR spectroscopic properties including strong absorption with maxima at around 1200 nm.