Quadrupolar Cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylene‐Based Electron Donor‐Acceptor‐Donor Conjugates: Charge Transfer versus Charge Separation

Cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylenes (CPAs) have been functionalized at two of the peripheral positions with electronically inert trimethylsilylethynyl (1), as well as with electron‐donating 4‐ethynyl‐N,N‐dimethylaniline (2), ethynyl ZnIIphthalocyanine (3), and ethynyl ZnIIporphyrin (4) units. Consistent with X‐ray crystal structures of 2 and 4, analyses of absorption and fluorescence of 2–4 point to strong electronic communication between the CPA and the peripheral units, affording quadrupolar electron donor‐acceptor‐donor charge‐transfer conjugates. By virtue of their quadrupolar/dipolar charge‐transfer characters in the excited state, 2–4 exhibit fluoro‐solvatochromism. Transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed delocalized quadrupolar ground states and formation of weakly solvent stabilized quadrupolar singlet excited states. The latter transform into strongly stabilized dipolar excited states before deactivating to the ground state in 2 and give rise to a fully charge separated state in 3 and 4. Cards on the table: Cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylenes (CPAs) functionalized at two of the peripheral positions with trimethylsilylethynyl, as well as with electron‐donating 4‐ethynyl‐N,N‐dimethylaniline, ethynyl ZnII phthalocyanine, and ethynyl ZnII porphyrin units have been prepared and investigated by means of photophysical, electrochemical, and spectro‐electrochemical techniques.