Synthesis of Novel 1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles Derivatives Catalyzed by NbCl₅ and Application in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles are a versatile class of materials with simple synthesis and promising application in organic electronic devices. In this work we present a method of synthesis of new 1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole derivatives, with ester and carboxylic acid groups as anchoring groups, by multicomponent reactions using niobium pentachloride as catalyst. The new materials were structurally and optically characterized. Also, it was compared the bonding of different moieties to the titanium dioxide mesoporous film. The preliminary tests as dyes in standard configuration in dye-sensitized solar cells have shown a potential performance in the energy conversion.

Keywords:
Lewis acid catalyst; Niobium; Heterocyclic dye; Dye-sensitized solar cells