Two for the price of one: The formation of two C(sp3)C(sp3) bonds can be achieved in a single operation by sequential cyclization and cross‐coupling of alkyl zinc bromides with iodoalkanes containing an alkene group (see scheme). The reaction is catalyzed by [Ni(py)4Cl2] in the presence of tridentate nitrogen ligands, shows a high functional‐group compatibility, and seems to follow a radical mechanism.

A series of unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanines bearing an anchoring carboxylic function linked to the phthalocyanine ring through different spacers were designed for dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC). The modification of the spacer group allows not only a variable distance between the dye and the nanocrystalline TiO(2), but also a distinct orientation of the phthalocyanine on the semiconductor surface. The photovoltaic data show that the nature of the spacer group plays a significant role in the electron injection from the photo-excited dye into the nanocrystalline TiO(2) semiconductor, the recombination rates and the efficiency of the cells. The incident monochromatic photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) for phthalocyanines bearing an insulating spacer is as low as 9%, whereas for those with a conducting spacer an outstanding IPCE 80% was obtained.

Four hexachlorosubphthalocyanines SubPcCl 6 -X bearing different axial substituents (X) have been synthesized for use as novel electron acceptors in solution-processed bulkheterojunction organic solar cells.S ubphthalocyanines are aromatic chromophoric molecules with cone-shaped structure, good solution processability,i ntense optical absorption in the visible spectral region, appropriate electron mobilities,a nd tunable energy levels.S olar cells with subphthalocyanines as the electron acceptor and PTB7-Th as the electron donor exhibit apower conversion efficiency up to 4%and an external quantum efficiency approaching 60 %d ue to significant contributions from both the electron donor and the electron acceptor to the photocurrent, indicating ap romising prospect of non-fullerene acceptors based on subphthalocyanines and structurally related systems.

Two structurally-similar discotic molecules able to self-assemble in water, forming supramolecular fibers, are reported. While both self-assembled polymers are indistinguishable from a morphological point-of-view, a dramatic change in their polymerization mechanism is observed (i.e., one self-assemble via an isodesmic mechanism, while the other shows one of the highest cooperativity values).