Near-Infrared Quadrupolar Chromophores Combining Three-Coordinate Boron-Based Superdonor and Superacceptor Units

Herein, two new quadrupolar acceptor-π-donor-π-acceptor (A-π-D-π-A) chromophores have been prepared featuring a strongly electron-donating diborene core and strongly electron-accepting dimesitylboryl (BMes₂) and bis(2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)boryl (B^FMes₂) end groups. Analysis of the compounds by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and UV/Vis-NIR absorption and emission spectroscopy indicated that the compounds have extended conjugated π-systems spanning their B₄C₈ cores. The combination of exceptionally potent π-donor (diborene) and π-acceptor (diarylboryl) groups, both based on trigonal boron, leads to very small HOMO–LUMO gaps, resulting in strong absorption in the near-IR region with maxima in THF at 840 and 1092 nm and very high extinction coefficients of ca. 120 000 m⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Both molecules also display weak near-IR fluorescence with small Stokes shifts.