LAUSR

Attachment of cyclic imide groups to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) leads to fascinating electronic and luminescence properties, the rylene diimides being the representative example. The close to unity fluorescence quantum yields and electron acceptor properties render them suitable for application in organic electronics and photovoltaics. The recent reports show that in line with planar PAHs, the imide functionalization has also endowed helical three-dimensional PAHs with similar beneficial photophysical properties. In this article, we have summarized the state-of-the-art research developments in the field of helicene-imide hybrid functional molecules, with a particular focus on synthesis, (chir)optical and redox properties, and applications in electronics. Additionally, we have highlighted our recent work, introducing a novel family of functional chiral molecules, namely, [n]helicene diimides the three-dimensional relatives of rylene diimides.