Design principles to tune the optical properties of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-containing molecules

We have synthesized a series of oxadiazole compounds and ethynylene analogs. Our data reveal that the ring is both optically transparent in the visible range and fully conjugating while we have also discovered the presence of a non-radiative mechanism active in molecules containing common para-dialkoxy substituents adjacent to the oxadiazole ring(s). This structure leads to a greatly reduced quantum yield, in our example dropping from 95.0% to 48.0%. Through our thorough study we have revealed evidence that this is the result of a repulsive interaction between the oxadiazole and the adjacent alkoxy oxygen atom, which we believe prevents excited-state planarity. This quantum yield reduction is preventable through the design principles presented here.