Cross-coupling reactions: Some applications to the synthesis of thiazolothiazole- and benzobisthiazole-based dyes for new generation solar cells (DSSC)

• DSSC are new generation photovoltaics coupling good efficiency and low costs.
• D–π–A type dyes are one of the most promising class of organic sensitizers for DSSCs.
• Cross-coupling reactions are a unique tool for the design and synthesis of D–π–A dyes.
• We designed a cross-coupling based synthesis of new dyes with a thiazolothiazole core.
• Thiazolothiazole-based dyes are promising sensitizers for DSSCs.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received considerable attention in the last decade because of their good efficiency coupled with low cost of production. To increase the performances of such devices it is important to develop effective organic photosensitizers with optimal chemical structures and, to this end, compouds featuring D–π–A architectures have been found very promising. Many classes of D–π–A dyes have been developed so far and cross-coupling reactions have emerged as an unique tool for designing flexible synthetic strategies. The aim of this microreview is to highlight the application of cross-coupling reactions in the preparation of such dyes, which is exemplified by the synthesis of a new class of thiazolothiazole- and benzobisthiazole-based dyes.

DSSCs have received considerable attention because of their efficiency and low cost of production. Organic dyes with D–π–A architectures have been found as very promising photosensitizers for increasing the performances of such devices. To obtain these structures cross-coupling reactions have emerged as an unique tool.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide