Polycyclic Imide Derivatives: Synthesis and Effective Tuning of Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital Levels through Molecular Engineering

A series of fluoranthene-fused imide derivatives were facilely developed through a Diels−Alder reaction followed by decarbonylation. The investigation of their photophysical and electrochemical properties demonstrated that their LUMO levels were effectively tuned from −3.2 to −3.8 eV through the introduction of a fused imide unit, which provides a platform to design new air-stable and solution-processable n-type materials.