Herein, acceptor–donor–acceptor π-conjugated
small molecules, namely, triad 1 and triad 2, consisting of dithienopyrrolobenzothiadiazole and 1,8-naphthalimide,
both with and without a thiophene spacer, were synthesized. Their
absorption characteristics, redox properties, charge carrier mobilities,
and their potential for metal-free photocatalytic transformations
were investigated. Triad 1 and triad 2 showed
wide absorption spectra in the range of 300–600 nm in solutions
and 350–700 nm in thin films, along with narrow electrochemical
bandgaps of 2.05 and 1.83 eV, respectively. Futhermore, the charge
carrier mobilities of both triads were assessed through space-charge
limited current measurements. The calculated hole mobilities for triad 1 and triad 2 were 1.26 × 10–3 and 8.38 × 10–4 cm2/V s, respectively,
while the electron mobilities for triad 1 and triad
2 were 6.73 × 10–4 and 4.18 × 10–4 cm2/V s, respectively. Moreover, triad 1 and triad 2 exhibited efficient photocatalytic
behavior toward selective metal-free condensation cyclization reactions
of o-phenylenediamine/1,2-diamino-4,5-difluorobenzene
and aromatic aldehydes with wide substrate scope under blue LED light
to give a variety of pharmaceutically relevant benzimidazole derivatives.