Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of C3-Symmetric Star-Shaped Molecules Containing Heterocycles Such as Furan, Thiophene, and Oxazole

We report simple strategies to synthesize star-shaped molecules containing different heterocycles integrated with a number of variations. Here, cyclotrimerization, Vilsmeier-Haack reaction, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, and Van Leusen oxazole synthesis have been used as key steps to introduce diverse five-membered heterocycles such as furan, thiophene, and oxazole. More importantly, readily available starting materials such as thiophene, 2-formyl furan, and 2-acetyl furan were utilized. Also, the fluorescent behavior of these π-conjugated systems was studied. C 3 -Symmetric molecules containing furan moieties show a stronger fluorescence than thiophene-containing star-shaped compounds.