Synthesis of new donor–acceptor–donor materials via Au-catalyzed double cascade cyclization

A new class of symmetric π-conjugated donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) materials, with aryl- or heteroaryl[a]annulated carbazole (AHA[a]C) moieties as the donors and with 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT) as an acceptor, has been synthesized via NaAuCl4-catalyzed double cascade cyclization of arenyl tetraynes in ethanol in good to high yields. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the new D–A–D materials were investigated.