NIR-absorbing donor–acceptor molecules based on fused thienopyrroloindole

Two novel aromatic compounds containing thieno[2',3':4,5]-thieno[3,2-b]thieno[2' ' , 3' ':4' ,5']thieno[2',3':4,5]-pyrrolo[3,2-g]indole as the electron-donating center and terminal 3-(dicyanomethylene)indan-1-one (or 5,6-difluoro analogue) electron-accepting groups exhibit efficient light absorption in the red and near-infrared spectral regions, have low levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (up to –5.65 eV) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (–3.91 eV) and a relatively low band gap value (up to 1.74 eV). The optical, thermal and structural properties are explored and compared with those of their closest and well known analogues, Y5 and Y6.