A series of zigzag-edged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Z1-Z3) were synthesized from 2,12-dibromo-7,14-diphenyl-benzo[m]tetraphene (9) as a versatile building block. Their structures were unambiguously confirmed by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, 1 H NMR, Raman, and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies as well as scanning tunneling microscopy. The fingerprint vibrational modes were elucidated with theoretical support. The edge- and size-dependent optical properties were characterized by UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Moreover, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy revealed distinct modulation of the photophysical properties upon π-extension from Z1 to Z2, the latter having a gulf edge.
Keywords: modular synthesis; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; scanning tunneling microscopy; vibrational spectroscopy; zigzag-edge.
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