Terminally acylated
terthiophenes, in particular, the bis-pivaloyl
derivative, were synthesized by Friedel–Crafts acylation with
sub-stoichiometric amounts of standard zinc oxide and exhibit strong
fluorescence and an ultrafast fluorescence decay of 400 ps. Their
high photostability and large Stokes’ shifts are good prerequisites
for applications in optical GBit fast data systems such as fiber optics
in slip rings.