# Unsymmetrical Heptamethine Dyes for NIR Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Authors: Thomas Geiger; Iuliia Schoger; Daniel Rentsch; Anna Christina Véron; Frédéric Oswald; Toby Meyer; Frank Nüesch
Journal: International Journal of Photoenergy
 (2014)

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## Abstract

Seven unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes with carboxylic acid functionality were synthesized and characterized. These near-infrared dyes exhibit outstanding photophysical properties depending on their heterocyclic moieties and molecular structure. As proof of principle, the dyes were used as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. Using the most promising dye, an overall conversion efficiency of 1.22% and an almost colorless solar cell were achieved.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

In order to achieve chromophores which absorb light in the far red or even in the near-infrared region (NIR), increased efforts were made by developing new molecular dye structures and synthetic strategies or by investigating basic structure property relationships. Intense absorption in the NIR is mandatory for many technologies and applications, for example, energy conversion in photovoltaic cells [1]. However, while many dyes provide absorption from the visible to the NIR [2, 3] range, only few absorb in the NIR only and are able to convert energy efficiently. Particularly for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), only a few dye classes with appropriate molecular design are known to be viable NIR absorbers: squaraine dyes, croconine dyes, diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives, and polymethine dyes with a single absorption maximum, λmax⁡, above 700 nm. Recently, Park et al. comprehensively reviewed the NIR sensitization in DSCs [4]. Polymethine dyes [5], in particular, the subclass of heptamethine dyes, exhibit outstanding photophysical properties, for example, absorption maximum (λmax⁡) above 700 nm with high molar extinction coefficient (ε) of over 100000 Lmol-1cm-1. Furthermore, heptamethine dyes can be obtained via straightforward and cost-effective synthesis in high yields in contrast to metal complex photosensitizers. In this context, several publications reported about synthesis and first applications of heptamethine dyes in DSCs [6–11]. In common with all reported heptamethine dyes, the essential carboxylic acid anchor group was symmetrically positioned either at the heterocyclic moieties or the alkyl chains which are substituted to the nitrogen atoms of the heterocycles or at the cyclohexene moiety of the polymethine chain.Following the concept and molecular design of unsymmetrical squaraine dyes which were synthesized and successfully applied [12–15] in our previous works [16–18], we report on the synthesis, characterization, and application of unsymmetrical heptamethine dyesHepta1–Hepta7 with one carboxylic acid anchor group (Figure 1). Here, the anchor group is in conjugation with one of the heterocyclic moieties (indole- or quinoline-derivative). The polymethine core is rigidified by a cyclohexene moiety which is substituted by a chlorine atom or phenyl-group.Figure 1
Synthesized unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes with one carboxylic acid anchor group. R1 = ethyl, R2 = octyl.The second terminating heterocycle (benzindole-, quinoline-, and thiazole-derivative) is chemically different from the first heterocycle carrying the anchor group. In order to improve solubility in organic solvents and to hinder dye aggregation during immobilization on the semiconductor, the heterocycles were substituted with long alkyl chains.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. General Information

Solvents and other chemicals were purchased from commercial sources (Aldrich, VWR, FEW, ABCR, and Solaronix) and used without purification. Unless otherwise stated, all reactions were carried out under inert gas (Argon) in anhydrous solvent. Sodium acetate was dried under high vacuum at 120°C for 3 h.1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded at 298 K on a 5 mm broadband inverse probe using a Bruker Avance 400 NMR spectrometer at 400.1 and 100.6 MHz, respectively. Chemical shifts (δ) in ppm are calibrated to residual solvent peaks (DMSO: δ = 2.49 and 39.5 ppm, resp.). Coupling constants J are reported in Hz and for 1H NMR data coupling patterns are described as s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, q = quartet, m = multiplet, and br = broad and for 13C NMR data as s = quaternary carbon, d = CH, t = CH2, and q = CH3. For the 1D and 2D NMR experiments standard Bruker pulse programs and measuring parameters were applied. Double quantum filtered homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (DQF-COSY), gradient selected heteronuclear single quantum coherence (gHSQC), and heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (gHMBC) were used for 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift assignments (w = weak correlation peak). Some of the compounds were only poorly soluble in DMSO and, therefore, the signal to noise of the 1D 13C NMR spectra was rather low (S15,Hepta3,Hepta4,Hepta5, andHepta6). In some cases, resonances of quaternary carbons were missing in these spectra (S11 andS13) or only 2D correlated NMR data was recorded (Hepta1 andHepta7). Copies of all spectra are provided in the Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/258984. MS data were recorded on a Bruker maXis-ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometer (ESI-QTOF) or on a HiRes-ESI IonSpec Varian Ultima-ESI FTICR-MS spectrometer (USA). Elemental analyses for C, H, N, and O were measured by an apparatus from LECO. The elements Cl, Br, and I were determined by titration or with ion chromatograph after Schoeniger digestion. IR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Tensor 27 with ATR configuration. UV-vis spectra of the dyes in solutions were recorded on a Varian Cary 50 Scan spectrometer in a 1.0 cm square cuvette. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed on a PGStat 30 potentiostat (Autolab) using a three-cell electrode system consisting of a rotating gold working electrode, platinum counter electrode, and Ag/AgCl (0.1 M tetrabutylammonium chloride in anhydrous DMF or acetonitrile) reference electrode. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on a Netzsch TG 209 F1 under nitrogen atmosphere.


### 2.2. Synthesis

More information about the precursorsS1–S8, a detailed description of the synthesis, and characterization of the precursors and half dyesS9–S16 is given in the Supplementary Material.


#### 2.2.1. 2-(2-(3-(2-(6-Carboxy-1-ethylquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta1)

Half dyeS11 (1.54 mmol, 0.92 g) was dissolved in anhydrous ethanol (40 mL). Subsequently, 6-carboxy-1-ethyl-2-methylquinolin-1-ium bromideS10(1.54 mmol, 0.46 g) and sodium acetate were added to the solution at room temperature. Then, the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 1 h, and the product started to precipitate. In order to dilute the thick suspension, ethanol (40 mL) was added and heating was continued for 15 h under vigorous stirring. Finally, the suspension was chilled to room temperature. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with cold ethanol three times (50 mL), and dried under reduced pressure at 40°C to yield the dyeHepta1 (0.77 g, 75%). d.p. 223°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 8.76 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-27), 8.66 (d,J= 1.9, 1H, H-33), 8.43 (dd,J= 9.1, 1.9, 1H, H-31), 8.36 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-26), 8.36 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-23), 8.30 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-30), 8.16 (d,J= 8.6, 1H, H-3), 7.97 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-16), 7.94 (m, 1H, H-6), 7.94 (d,J= 8.8, 1H, H-7), 7.53 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.50 (d,J= 8.8, 1H, H-8), 7.35 (m, 1H, H-5), 6.86 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-24), 5.87 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-15), 4.91 (q,J= 7.1, 2H, H-37), 4.08 (q,J= 7.0, 2H, H-35), 2.77 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-20), 2.69 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-18), 1.91 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.88 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.53 (t,J= 7.1, 3H, H-38), 1.26 (t,J= 7.0, 3H, H-36). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 166.0 (s, C-34), 165.3 (s, C-12), 153.8 (s, C-25), 143.5 (d, C-23), 143.3 (s, C-22), 142.1 (d, C-27), 140.4 (s, C-9), 139.4 (s, C-29), 135.6 (s, C-32), 134.6 (d, C-31), 134.0 (d, C-16), 130.4 (d, C-33), 130.1 (s, C-10), 13.2 (q, C-38), 129.9 (s, C-1), 129.7 (d, C-7), 129.7 (d, C-6), 128.1 (s, C-2), 127.3 (s, C-21), 127.1 (d, C-4), 126.7 (s, C-28), 124.1 (s, C-17), 123.2 (d, C-5), 121.6 (d, C-3), 120.7 (d, C-26), 117.5 (d, C-30), 113.0 (d, C-24), 110.3 (d, C-8), 94.8 (d, C-15), 48.6 (s, C-11), 45.5 (t, C-37), 37.3 (t, C-35), 26.9 (q, C-13, 14), 26.6 (t, C-20), 25.6 (t, C-18), 20.6 (t, C-19), 11.7 (q, C-36). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 2w, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 12w, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18, 22), H-18 → C-(19, 20, 21w, 22), H-19 → C-(17, 21), H-20 → C-(17w, 18, 19, 22), H-23 → C-(20, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21, 23w, 26), H-26 → C-(24w, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 33), H-30 → C-(28, 31w, 32), H-31 → C-(29, 33, 34), H-33 → C-(27, 28w, 29, 31, 34), H-35 → C-(9, 12, 36), H-36 → C-(35), H-37 → C-(25, 29, 38), H-38 → C-(37). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-30 → H-(31), H-31 → H-(30, 33), H-33 → H-(31), H-35 → H-(36), H-36 → H-(35), H-37 → H-(38), H-38 → H-(37). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C38H38ClN2O2[M-I]+: 589.2616. Found: 589.2611. Elemental analysis: calculated for C38H38N2O2ClI: C, 63.65%; H, 5.34%; N, 3.91%; O, 4.46%; Cl, 4.94%; I, 17.70%. Found: C, 65.58%; H, 5.88%; N, 4.98%. IR (ATR, cm−1): λmax⁡ 3397, 2975, 2932, 2868, 1701, 1621, 1551, 1429, 1234, 1146, 1031, 995.


#### 2.2.2. 2-(2-(3-(2-(6-Carboxy-1-ethylquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1,1-dimethyl-3-octyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta2)

Half dyeS13 (4.41 mmol, 3.00 g), 6-carboxy-1-ethyl-2-methylquinolinium bromideS10 (4.41 mmol, 1.30 g), and sodium acetate (8.8 mmol, 0.72 g) were suspended in ethanol (120 mL). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 18 h and subsequently cooled to room temperature. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with cold ethanol twice (50 mL), and dried at 40°C under reduced pressure. For further purification, the product was recrystallized from methanol to yield brown crystals ofHepta2 (1.98 g, 56%). d.p. 206°C, 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 8.78 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-27), 8.63 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-33), 8.44 (dd,J= 9.2, 1.6, 1H, H-31), 8.34 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-26), 8.32 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-23), 8.29 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-30), 8.14 (d,J= 8.7, 1H, H-6), 7.92 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.91 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-16), 7.90 (m, 1H, H-7), 7.53 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.48 (d,J= 8.9, 1H, H-8), 7.34 (m, 1H, H-4), 6.89 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-24), 5.82 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-15), 4.93 (q (br),J= 7, 2H, H-43), 4.00 (m, 2H, H-35), 2.76 (t,J= 5.0, 2H, H-20), 2.66 (t,J= 5.0, 2H, H-18), 1.89 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.69 (m, 2H, H-36), 1.53 (t,J= 7, 3H, H-44), 1.37 (m, 2H, H-37), 1.32 (m, 2H, H-38), 1.24 (m, 2H, H-39), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-40), 0.82 (t,J= 6.9, 3H, H-42). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 166.0 (s, C-34), 165.3 (s, C-12), 153.9 (s, C-25), 143.4 (d, C-23), 143.0 (s, C-22), 142.5 (d, C-27), 141.0 (s, C-9), 139.1 (s, C-29), 137.4 (s, C-32), 135.0 (d, C-31), 133.4 (d, C-16), 130.3 (d, C-33), 130.1 (s, C-2), 129.8 (s, C-10), 129.8 (d, C-7), 129.8 (d, C-3), 128.1 (s, C-1), 127.5 (s, C-21), 127.2 (d, C-5), 126.9 (s, C-28), 124.0 (s, C-17), 123.2 (d, C-4), 121.6 (d, C-6), 120.6 (d, C-26), 117.3 (d, C-30), 113.6 (d, C-24), 110.6 (d, C-8), 94.8 (d, C-15), 48.6 (s, C-11), 45.7 (t, C-43), 42.3 (t, C-35), 31.2 (t, C-40), 28.7 (t, C-38), 28.6 (t, C-39), 27.1 (q, C-13, 14), 26.7 (t, C-20), 26.4 (t, C-36), 26.1 (t, C-37), 25.7 (t, C-18), 22.0 (t, C-41), 20.7 (t, C-19), 13.9 (q, C-42), 13.4 (q, C-44). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 5w, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1, 6w, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 12, 13 & 14w, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18, 22), H-18 → C-(17, 19, 20, 22), H-19 → C-(17, 21), H-20 → C-(18, 19, 21, 22), H-23 → C-(20, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21, 23w, 26), H-26 → C-(24w, 25, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 28w, 29, 33), H-30 → C-(28, 32), H-31 → C-(29, 33, 34), H-33 → C-(27, 28w, 29, 31, 34), H-35 → C-(9, 12, 37), H-36 → C-(37, 38), H-37 → C-(39), H-40 → C-(42), H-42 → C-(40, 41), H-43 → C-(25, 29, 44). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-30 → H-(31), H-31 → H-(30, 33), H-33 → H-(31), H-35 → H-(36), H-36 → H-(35, 37), H-37 → H-(36), H-41 → H-(42), H-42 → H-(41), H-43 → H-(44), H-44 → H-(43). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C44H50ClN2O2 [M-I]+: 673.3555. Found: 673.3546. Elemental analysis: calculated for C44H50ClIN2O2: C, 65.96%; H, 6.29%; N, 3.50%; O, 3.99%; Cl, 4.42%; I, 15.84%. Found: C, 72.27%; H, 6.73%; N, 3.92%; O, 5.62%; Cl, 5.04%; I, 5.15%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2927, 2856, 1704, 1617, 1540, 1430, 1342, 1224, 1039, 744.


#### 2.2.3. 2-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Iodide (Hepta3)

Half dyeS12 (4.9 mmol, 3.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (4.9 mmol, 2.16 g), and sodium acetate (9.8 mmol, 0.8 g) were suspended in ethanol (120 mL) and heated to reflux for 48 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C overnight. The precipitate was collected by filtration. For further purification, the dye was recrystallized from methanol twice (60 mL) to yield green crystals ofHepta3 (0.61 g, 18%). d.p. 244°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.57 (s, 1H, OH), 8.85 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-7), 8.45 (d,J= 9.3, 1H, H-3), 8.45 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-8), 8.31 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-11), 8.29 (dd,J= 8.0, 1.2, 1H, H-6), 8.11 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.87 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.87 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.84 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-27), 7.69 (d,J= 12.8, H, H-18), 7.03 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-26), 7.02 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-10), 5.81 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-19), 4.94 (t,J= 7.4, 2H, H-31), 3.85 (t,J= 6.5, 2H, H-39), 2.74 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.65 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.88 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.62 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.60 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 1.52 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.35 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2-1.3 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 0.83, 0.85 (m, 6H, H-38, 46). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.2 (s, C-30), 161.5 (s, C-20), 154.7 (s, C-9), 147.5 (s, C-25), 143.5 (d, C-11), 143.1 (d, C-7), 141.9 (s, C-17), 139.0 (s, C-24), 138.5 (s, C-2), 134.8 (d, C-4), 131.2 (d, C-18), 130.7 (d, C-27), 130.2 (d, C-6), 128.6 (s, C-12), 128.5 (d, C-5), 127.6 (s, C-1), 125.3 (s, C-16), 123.0 (d, C-29), 122.9 (s, C-28), 121.2 (d, C-8), 118.7 (d, C-3), 116.2 (d, C-10), 107.5 (d, C-26), 95.8 (d, C-19), 50.0 (t, C-31), 45.8 (s, C-21), 41.9 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 28.6 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 28.1 (t, C-32), 27.8 (q, C-22, 23), 26.8 (t, C-13), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.9 (t, C-40), 25.7 (t, C-33), 25.7 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 20.8 (t, C-14), 13.9, 14.0 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 6), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(9, 10w), H-10 → C-(8, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13, 17), H-13 → C-(12, 17), H-15 → C-(16), H-18 → C-(15, 17), H-19 → C-(21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23, 24), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 30), H-31 → C-(2, 9w), H-35, 42, 43 → C-(36, 44), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 45). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(7), H-8 → H-(8), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32, 34), H-34 → H-(33), H-37, 45 → H-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → H-(37, 45), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C46H60ClN2O2[M-I]+: 707.4338. Found: 707.4334. Elemental analysis: calculated for C46H60ClIN2O2: C, 66.14%; H, 7.24%; N, 3.35%; O, 3.83%; Cl, 4.24%; I, 15.19%. Found: C, 66.15%; H, 7.29%; N, 3.32%; O, 3.92%; Cl, 4.03%; I, 14.89%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2923, 2854, 1708, 1663, 1600, 1566, 1453, 1270, 1120, 935, 772.


#### 2.2.4. 2-(2-(6-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Iodide (Hepta4).

Half dyeS16 (3.8 mmol, 2.50 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8(3.8 mmol, 1.69 g), and sodium acetate (8.9 mmol, 0.6 g) were suspended in ethanol (60 mL) and heated to reflux for 48 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C for 12 h. Subsequently, the precipitated starting material was removed by filtration. The volume of the filtrate was reduced to half under reduced pressure and stored at 4°C for 20 h. Finally, a fine crystalline powder precipitated, which was collected by filtration. The crude product was further purified by recrystallization from ethanol to yield the pure dyeHepta4(0.42 g, 12.6%). m.p. 160°C. d.p. 220°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.50 (s, H, OH), 8.60 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-7), 8.34 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-3), 8.12 (d,J= 8.0, 1H, H-6), 8.04 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.78 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-27), 7.76 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.69 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.56 (m, 2H, H-49, 51), 7.54 (m, 1H, H-50), 7.45 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-8), 7.32 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-11), 7.21 (d,J= 7.7, 2H, H-48, 52), 6.96 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-26), 6.82 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-10), 6.42 (d,J= 12.9, 1H, H-18), 5.78 (d,J= 12.9, 1H, H-19), 4.82 (m, 2H, H-31), 3.79 (m, 2H, H-39), 2.72 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.63 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.95 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.83 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.58 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.53 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.39 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.31 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2–1.4 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 1.05 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 0.84, 0.87 (t,J= 7.0, 6H, H-38, 46). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.1 (s, C-30), 160.5 (s, C-20), 154.5 (s, C-17), 154.3 (s, C-9), 147.5 (s, C-25), 146.6 (d, C-11), 142.4 (d, C-7), 138.7 (s, C-24), 138.4 (s, C-2), 138.3 (s, C-47), 135.0 (d, C-18), 134.6 (d, C-4), 130.9 (s, C-16), 130.6 (s, C-12), 130.6 (d, C-27), 130.1 (d, C-6), 129.8 (d, C-48, 52), 128.3 (d, C-49, 51), 128.0 (d, C-5), 127.8 (d, C-50), 126.9 (s, C-1), 122.7 (s, C-28), 122.7 (d, C-29), 119.6 (d, C-8), 118.3 (d, C-3), 112.5 (d, C-10), 107.3 (d, C-26), 96.1 (d, C-19), 49.7 (t, C-31), 45.2 (s, C-21), 41.9 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 28.5 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 27.9 (t, C-32), 27.3 (q, C-22, 23), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.8 (t, C-40), 25.6 (t, C-33), 25.1 (t, C-13), 24.3 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 21.2 (t, C-14), 13.9, 14.0 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w, 6w), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 9, 10w), H-10 → C-(8, 11w, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13), H-13 → C-(12, 14, 15, 17), H-14 → C-(12, 16), H-15 → C-(13, 14, 16, 17), H-18 → C-(15, 17, 20), H-19 → C-(16, 20, 21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23, 24), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 27, 30), H-31 → C-(2, 9, 32), H-32 → C-(31), H-33 → C-(31, 32, 35), H-35, 42, 43 → C-(36, 44), H-36, 44 → C-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 38), H-39 → C-(20, 25, 41), H-40 → C-(41, 42), H-48, 52 → C-(17, 48, 52, 50), H-49, 51 → C-(47, 49, 51), H-50 → C-(48, 52). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26, 29w), H-29 → H-(27w), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40), H-48, 52 → H-(49, 51), H-49, 51 → H-(48, 52). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C52H65N2O2 [M-I]+: 749.5041. Found: 749.5039. Elemental analysis: calculated for C52H65IN2O2: C, 71.22%; H, 7.47%; N, 3.19%; O, 3.65%; I, 14.47%. Found: C, 70.82%; H, 7.60%; N, 3.17%; O, 4.03%; I, 14.23%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2924, 2854, 1707, 1669, 1453, 1143, 1104, 1049, 993, 745.


#### 2.2.5. 4-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Perchlorate (Hepta5)

Half dyeS14 (6.52 mmol, 4.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (6.52 mmol, 2.89 g), and sodium acetate (13.04 mmol, 1.08 g) were suspended in ethanol (160 mL) and heated to reflux for 96 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature. Precipitated half dye was separated by filtration. The volume of the filtrate was concentrated to half under reduced pressure and, subsequently, slowly dropped to a warm (60°C) ethanolic sodium perchlorate solution (50 mL, 7 wt%). In order to complete ion exchange, the solution was stirred and heated for 1 h. Finally, the solution was slowly cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C for 5 d. Precipitated crystals were isolated by filtration, washed with ethanol twice (20 mL each), and dried under reduced pressure at 40°C to yield the dyeHepta5 (0.45 g, 8.5%). d.p. 246°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.52 (s, 1H, OH), 9.14 (d,J= 6.7, 1H, H-7), 8.88 (dd,J= 8.9, 1.1, 1H, H-5), 8.46 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-2), 8.31 (d,J= 6.7, 1H, H-8), 8.28 (d,J= 15.4, 1H, H-11), 8.19 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.95 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.85 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-29), 7.83 (dd,J= 8.2, 1.6, 1H, H-27), 7.63 (d,J= 15.4, 1H, H-10), 7.61 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-18), 6.99 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-26), 5.77 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-19), 4.89 (t,J= 7.3, 2H, H-31), 3.82 (m, 2H, H-39), 2.81 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.64 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.91 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.62 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.60 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 1.38 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.27 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2–1.4 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 0.84 (t,J= 7, 6H, H-38, 46), 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.2 (s, C-30), 160.1 (s, C-20), 152.2 (s, C-9), 147.7 (s, C-25), 146.7 (d, C-7), 139.9 (s, C-17), 139.9 (d, C-11), 138.8 (s, C-24), 137.8 (s, C-1), 134.8 (d, C-3), 130.7 (d, C-27), 129.5 (s, C-12), 129.4 (d, C-18), 128.9 (d, C-4), 126.5 (s, C-6), 126.5 (d, C-5), 125.6 (s, C-16), 122.9 (d, C-29), 122.6 (s, C-28), 119.0 (d, C-2), 118.9 (d, C-10), 115.6 (d, C-8), 107.1 (d, C-26), 95.5 (d, C-19), 56.3 (t, C-31), 45.5 (s, C-21), 41.8 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 29.3 (t, C-32), 28.5 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 27.8 (q, C-22, 23), 27.0 (t, C-13), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.8 (t, C-40), 25.8 (t, C-33), 25.8 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 20.8 (t, C-14), 13.9 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-2 → C-(4, 6), H-3 → C-(1, 2w, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 3w, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w, 9), H-7 → C-(1, 8, 9, 31), H-8 → C-(6, 7, 10), H-10 → C-(6, 8, 9w, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13, 17), H-13 → C-(11, 12, 14, 15, 17), H-14 → C-(12, 16), H-15 → C-(13, 14, 16, 17, 18w), H-18 → C-(15, 17, 20), H-19 → C-(16, 20, 21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 27, 30), H-31 → C-(1, 7, 32, 33), H-32 → C-(31, 33, 34), H-37, 45 → C-(36, 44, 38, 46), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 45), H-39 → C-(20, 25, 40, 41). DQF-COSY correlations: H-2 → H-(3), H-3 → H-(2, 4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-37, 45 → H-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → H-(37, 45), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C46H60Cl2N2O6[M-ClO4]+: 707.4338. Found: 707.4336. Elemental analysis: calculated for C46H60Cl2N2O6: C, 68.39%; H, 7.49%; N, 3.47%; O, 11.88%; Cl, 8.78%. Found: C, 68.18%; H, 7.71%; N, 3.42%; O, 12.17%; Cl, 8.67%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2925, 2853, 1709, 1688, 1568, 1161, 1076, 771.


#### 2.2.6. 2-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3-ethylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta6)

Half dyeS15 (1.87 mmol, 1.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (1.87 mmol, 0.83 g), and sodium acetate (4.1 mmol, 0.33 g) were suspended in ethanol (50 mL) and heated to reflux for 18 h. After the reaction, the suspension was cooled to room temperature. The precipitated starting materials were removed by filtration. The filtrate was reduced to half under reduced pressure and stored at −20°C for 14 h. Subsequently, the viscose suspension was dropped into hexane (50 mL) and stored at 4°C for 15 h until fine green shiny crystals precipitated. The crystals were isolated by filtration and recrystallized from ethanol (30 mL) to yield the dyeHepta6 (0.31 g, 22.5%). d.p. 255°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.65 (s, 1H, OH), 8.28 (dd,J= 8.1, 0.8, 1H, H-5), 8.21 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-9), 8.15 (d,J= 8.5, 1H, H-2), 7.92 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-27), 7.87 (dd,J= 8.3, 1.6, 1H, H-25), 7.81 (d,J= 13.2, 1H, H-16), 7.79 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.68 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.14 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-8), 7.13 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-24), 5.89 (d,J= 13.2, 1H, H-17), 4.81 (q,J= 7.2, 2H, H-29), 3.92 (m, 2H, H-31), 2.74 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-11), 2.66 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-13), 1.84 (m, 2H, H-12), 1.64 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.61 (s, 6H, H-20, 21), 1.40 (t,J= 7.2, 3H, H-30), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.28 (m, 4H, H-34, 35), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-37), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-36), 0.83 (t,J= 7.0, 3H, H-38). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 169.5 (s, C-7), 167.1 (s, C-28), 163.6 (s, C-18), 147.2 (s, C-23), 144.2 (d, C-9), 143.8 (s, C-15), 141.2 (s, C-1), 139.3 (s, C-22), 134.0 (d, C-16), 130.7 (d, C-25), 129.2 (d, C-3), 127.9 (s, C-10), 127.6 (d, C-4), 127.5 (s, C-6), 125.5 (s, C-14), 124.1 (d, C-5), 123.8 (s, C-26), 123.0 (d, C-27), 115.8 (d, C-2), 109.2 (d, C-8), 108.2 (d, C-24), 96.7 (d, C-17), 46.3 (s, C-19), 43.5 (t, C-29), 42.3 (t, C-31), 31.2 (t, C-36), 28.6 (t, C-34, 35), 27.8 (q, C-20, 21), 26.7 (t, C-11), 26.1 (t, C-33), 26.1 (t, C-32), 25.7 (t, C-13), 22.0 (t, C-37), 20.5 (t, C-12), 14.0 (q, C-38), 13.8 (q, C-30). HMBC correlations: H-2 → C-(4, 6), H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-8 → C-(7, 9w, 10), H-9 → C-(7, 11, 15), H-11 → C-(9w, 10, 13, 15), H-12 → C-(10, 14), H-13 → C-(11, 14, 15, 16w), H-16 → C-(13, 18), H-17 → C-(14, 18w, 19), H-20, 21 → C-(18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), H-24 → C-(22, 26), H-25 → C-(23, 27, 28), H-27 → C-(19, 23, 25, 28), H-29 → C-(1, 7, 30), H-30 → C-(29), H-31 → C-(18, 23, 33), H-32 → C-(33, 34), H-33 → C-(32, 35), H-34, 35 → C-(36), H-37 → C-(35, 36), H-38 → C-(36, 37). DQF-COSY correlations: H-2 → H-(3), H-3 → H-(2, 4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4), H-8 → H-(9), H-9 → H-(8), H-11 → H-(12), H-12 → H-(11, 13), H-13 → H-(12), H-16 → H-(17), H-17 → H-(16), H-24 → H-(25), H-25 → H-(24, 27), H-27 → H-(25), H-29 → H-(30), H-30 → H-(29), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-37 → H-(38), H-38 → H-(37). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C38H46ClN2O2S [M-I]+: 629.2963. Found: 629.2957. Elemental analysis: calculated for C38H46ClIN2O2S: C, 60.28%; H, 6.12%; N, 3.70%; O, 4.23%; S, 4.23%; Cl, 4.68%; I, 16.76%. Found: C, 60.02%; H, 6.16%; N, 3.72%; O, 4.48%; S, 4.16%; Cl, 4.49%; I, 16.69%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2923, 2852, 1705, 1604, 1548, 1359, 1096, 1049, 927, 754.


#### 2.2.7. 5-Carboxy-2-(2-(2-chloro-3-(2-(3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indol-2-ylidene)ethylidene)cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium (Hepta7)

Half dyeS11 (2.55 mmol, 1.52 g) and anchor groupS8 (2.9 mmol, 1.29 g) were dissolved in ethanol (50 mL) and heated to reflux under argon for 96 h. Then, the mixture was slowly cooled down to −15°C and stored at this temperature overnight. Since no product crystallized the solution was warmed up to room temperature and the desired crude product was isolated by slow crystallization from ethanol/diethyl ether mixture. Further purification by recrystallization from ethanol yielded pure dyeHepta7 (1.3 g, 65%). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.78 (s (br), 1H, OH), 8.52 (d,J= 15.0, 1H, H-16), 8.38 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-3), 8.20 (d,J= 9, 1H, H-7), 8.14 (d,J= 8.4, 1H, H-6), 8.04 (d,J= 13.5, 1H, H-23), 8.01 (d,J= 1.4, 1H, H-34), 7.94 (d,J= 9, 1H, H-8), 7.93 (dd,J= 8.4, 1.4, 1H, H-32), 7.72 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.61 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.28 (d,J= 8.4, 1H, H-31), 6.70 (d,J= 15, 1H, H-15), 6.08 (d,J= 13.5, 1H, H-24), 4.56 (q,J= 7.2, 2H, H-36), 4.04 (m, 2H, H-38), 2.77 (m, 2H, H-18), 2.71 (m, 2H, H-20), 1.95 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.87 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.68 (m, 2H, H-39), 1.65 (s, 6H, H-27, 28), 1.42 (t,J= 7.2, 3H, H-37), 1.35 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.28 (m, 4H, H-41, 42), 1.24 (m, 2H, H-44), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-43), 0.83 (t,J= 7.1, 3H, H-45). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 177.2 (s, C-12), 167.1 (s, C-35), 167.1 (s, C-25), 147.1 (s, C-22), 146.5 (s, C-30), 145.6 (d, C-16), 139.9 (s, C-29), 138.7 (s, C-9), 138.0 (d, C-23), 136.1 (s, C-10), 132.2 (s, C-1), 130.8 (d, C-7), 130.6 (d, C-32), 129.8 (d, C-6), 128.1 (d, C-4), 128.0 (s, C-17), 127.0 (s, C-2), 126.3 (s, C-21), 126.1 (d, C-5), 124.9 (s, C-33), 123.1 (d, C-34), 122.7 (d, C-3), 112.2 (d, C-8), 109.3 (d, C-31), 105.6 (d, C-15), 98.6 (d, C-24), 52.0 (s, C-11), 47.2 (s, C-26), 42.8 (t, C-38), 40.6 (t, C-36), 31.1 (t, C-43), 28.5 (t, C-41, 42), 27.6 (q, C-27, 28), 26.6 (q, C-13, 14), 26.3 (t, C-39), 26.0 (t, C-40), 25.9 (t, C-18), 25.7 (t, C-20), 22.0 (t, C-44), 20.3 (t, C-19), 13.9 (q, C-45), 13.0 (q, C-37). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-6 → C-(2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18w, 22), H-23 → C-(20w, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21w, 26), H-27, 28 → C-(25, 26, 27, 28, 29), H-31 → C-(29, 33), H-32 → C-(30, 32w, 34, 35), H-34 → C-(30, 32, 35), H-37 → C-(36), H-45 → C-(43, 44). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31), H-36 → H-(37), H-37 → H-(36), H-38 → H-(39), H-39 → H-(38, 40), H-40 → H-(39), H-44 → H-(45), H-45 → H-(44). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C45H54ClN2O2 [M-I]+: 689.3868. Found: 689.3854.


### 2.3. DSC Preparation

State-of-art cells were prepared with several titania photo anodes (0.36 cm2) printed on FTO glass (2.2 mm thick and 7 Ohm/sq). The layering used for high efficiency cells was as follows (see Supplementary Figure S2): around 12 μm of 18 nm TiO2 nanoparticles (Solaronix Ti-Nanoxide T/SP) and 3 μm of over 100 nm TiO2 nanoparticles (Solaronix Ti-Nanoxide R/SP). For testing purpose sometimes 4 μm thick layers of 18 nm TiO2 nanoparticles were used without addition of the scattering layer.TiCl4 pretreatment and posttreatment were performed to optimize titania’s adhesion, porosity, and specific area. The counter electrode was prepared by paint brushing three layers of Solaronix Platisol T, leading to the formation of a platinized catalytic layer after firing at 400°C. The photoanodes were then sensitized using the various dyes in different solvents with or without chenodeoxycholic acid as coadsorbent to limit dye aggregation. The working and counter electrodes were joined together using a 60 μm spacer (or 25 μm for 4 μm thick electrodes). The cells were then backfilled with an electrolyte based on acetonitrile containing 0.5 M of dimethyl propyl imidazolium iodide, 0.5 M of 4-t-butylpyridine, 0.1 M of lithium iodide, and 50 mM of iodine. For accurate measurement the cells were masked. The total active area was 0.36 cm2.


### 2.4. Large-Area DSC Preparation withHepta4

Thickness of the TiO2 layer was 14 μm with an additional scatter layer of 4 μm. For immersion, the optimal concentration was 0.5 mM forHepta4 and 10 mM for CDCA in methanol. The electrolyte was AN50 from Solaronix with a concentration of 50 mmol of I-/I3- in acetonitrile.


### 2.5. Characterization of the DSCs

The DSCs were characterized using a SolarSim 150 (Solaronix) previously calibrated. The measurements were carried out under one sun (1000 W/m2, AM-1.5G) on masked cells (active area 0.36 cm2).


## 2.1. General Information

Solvents and other chemicals were purchased from commercial sources (Aldrich, VWR, FEW, ABCR, and Solaronix) and used without purification. Unless otherwise stated, all reactions were carried out under inert gas (Argon) in anhydrous solvent. Sodium acetate was dried under high vacuum at 120°C for 3 h.1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded at 298 K on a 5 mm broadband inverse probe using a Bruker Avance 400 NMR spectrometer at 400.1 and 100.6 MHz, respectively. Chemical shifts (δ) in ppm are calibrated to residual solvent peaks (DMSO: δ = 2.49 and 39.5 ppm, resp.). Coupling constants J are reported in Hz and for 1H NMR data coupling patterns are described as s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, q = quartet, m = multiplet, and br = broad and for 13C NMR data as s = quaternary carbon, d = CH, t = CH2, and q = CH3. For the 1D and 2D NMR experiments standard Bruker pulse programs and measuring parameters were applied. Double quantum filtered homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (DQF-COSY), gradient selected heteronuclear single quantum coherence (gHSQC), and heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (gHMBC) were used for 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift assignments (w = weak correlation peak). Some of the compounds were only poorly soluble in DMSO and, therefore, the signal to noise of the 1D 13C NMR spectra was rather low (S15,Hepta3,Hepta4,Hepta5, andHepta6). In some cases, resonances of quaternary carbons were missing in these spectra (S11 andS13) or only 2D correlated NMR data was recorded (Hepta1 andHepta7). Copies of all spectra are provided in the Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/258984. MS data were recorded on a Bruker maXis-ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometer (ESI-QTOF) or on a HiRes-ESI IonSpec Varian Ultima-ESI FTICR-MS spectrometer (USA). Elemental analyses for C, H, N, and O were measured by an apparatus from LECO. The elements Cl, Br, and I were determined by titration or with ion chromatograph after Schoeniger digestion. IR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Tensor 27 with ATR configuration. UV-vis spectra of the dyes in solutions were recorded on a Varian Cary 50 Scan spectrometer in a 1.0 cm square cuvette. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed on a PGStat 30 potentiostat (Autolab) using a three-cell electrode system consisting of a rotating gold working electrode, platinum counter electrode, and Ag/AgCl (0.1 M tetrabutylammonium chloride in anhydrous DMF or acetonitrile) reference electrode. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on a Netzsch TG 209 F1 under nitrogen atmosphere.


## 2.2. Synthesis

More information about the precursorsS1–S8, a detailed description of the synthesis, and characterization of the precursors and half dyesS9–S16 is given in the Supplementary Material.


### 2.2.1. 2-(2-(3-(2-(6-Carboxy-1-ethylquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta1)

Half dyeS11 (1.54 mmol, 0.92 g) was dissolved in anhydrous ethanol (40 mL). Subsequently, 6-carboxy-1-ethyl-2-methylquinolin-1-ium bromideS10(1.54 mmol, 0.46 g) and sodium acetate were added to the solution at room temperature. Then, the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 1 h, and the product started to precipitate. In order to dilute the thick suspension, ethanol (40 mL) was added and heating was continued for 15 h under vigorous stirring. Finally, the suspension was chilled to room temperature. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with cold ethanol three times (50 mL), and dried under reduced pressure at 40°C to yield the dyeHepta1 (0.77 g, 75%). d.p. 223°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 8.76 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-27), 8.66 (d,J= 1.9, 1H, H-33), 8.43 (dd,J= 9.1, 1.9, 1H, H-31), 8.36 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-26), 8.36 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-23), 8.30 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-30), 8.16 (d,J= 8.6, 1H, H-3), 7.97 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-16), 7.94 (m, 1H, H-6), 7.94 (d,J= 8.8, 1H, H-7), 7.53 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.50 (d,J= 8.8, 1H, H-8), 7.35 (m, 1H, H-5), 6.86 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-24), 5.87 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-15), 4.91 (q,J= 7.1, 2H, H-37), 4.08 (q,J= 7.0, 2H, H-35), 2.77 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-20), 2.69 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-18), 1.91 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.88 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.53 (t,J= 7.1, 3H, H-38), 1.26 (t,J= 7.0, 3H, H-36). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 166.0 (s, C-34), 165.3 (s, C-12), 153.8 (s, C-25), 143.5 (d, C-23), 143.3 (s, C-22), 142.1 (d, C-27), 140.4 (s, C-9), 139.4 (s, C-29), 135.6 (s, C-32), 134.6 (d, C-31), 134.0 (d, C-16), 130.4 (d, C-33), 130.1 (s, C-10), 13.2 (q, C-38), 129.9 (s, C-1), 129.7 (d, C-7), 129.7 (d, C-6), 128.1 (s, C-2), 127.3 (s, C-21), 127.1 (d, C-4), 126.7 (s, C-28), 124.1 (s, C-17), 123.2 (d, C-5), 121.6 (d, C-3), 120.7 (d, C-26), 117.5 (d, C-30), 113.0 (d, C-24), 110.3 (d, C-8), 94.8 (d, C-15), 48.6 (s, C-11), 45.5 (t, C-37), 37.3 (t, C-35), 26.9 (q, C-13, 14), 26.6 (t, C-20), 25.6 (t, C-18), 20.6 (t, C-19), 11.7 (q, C-36). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 2w, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 12w, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18, 22), H-18 → C-(19, 20, 21w, 22), H-19 → C-(17, 21), H-20 → C-(17w, 18, 19, 22), H-23 → C-(20, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21, 23w, 26), H-26 → C-(24w, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 33), H-30 → C-(28, 31w, 32), H-31 → C-(29, 33, 34), H-33 → C-(27, 28w, 29, 31, 34), H-35 → C-(9, 12, 36), H-36 → C-(35), H-37 → C-(25, 29, 38), H-38 → C-(37). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-30 → H-(31), H-31 → H-(30, 33), H-33 → H-(31), H-35 → H-(36), H-36 → H-(35), H-37 → H-(38), H-38 → H-(37). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C38H38ClN2O2[M-I]+: 589.2616. Found: 589.2611. Elemental analysis: calculated for C38H38N2O2ClI: C, 63.65%; H, 5.34%; N, 3.91%; O, 4.46%; Cl, 4.94%; I, 17.70%. Found: C, 65.58%; H, 5.88%; N, 4.98%. IR (ATR, cm−1): λmax⁡ 3397, 2975, 2932, 2868, 1701, 1621, 1551, 1429, 1234, 1146, 1031, 995.


### 2.2.2. 2-(2-(3-(2-(6-Carboxy-1-ethylquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1,1-dimethyl-3-octyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta2)

Half dyeS13 (4.41 mmol, 3.00 g), 6-carboxy-1-ethyl-2-methylquinolinium bromideS10 (4.41 mmol, 1.30 g), and sodium acetate (8.8 mmol, 0.72 g) were suspended in ethanol (120 mL). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 18 h and subsequently cooled to room temperature. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with cold ethanol twice (50 mL), and dried at 40°C under reduced pressure. For further purification, the product was recrystallized from methanol to yield brown crystals ofHepta2 (1.98 g, 56%). d.p. 206°C, 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 8.78 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-27), 8.63 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-33), 8.44 (dd,J= 9.2, 1.6, 1H, H-31), 8.34 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-26), 8.32 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-23), 8.29 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-30), 8.14 (d,J= 8.7, 1H, H-6), 7.92 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.91 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-16), 7.90 (m, 1H, H-7), 7.53 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.48 (d,J= 8.9, 1H, H-8), 7.34 (m, 1H, H-4), 6.89 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-24), 5.82 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-15), 4.93 (q (br),J= 7, 2H, H-43), 4.00 (m, 2H, H-35), 2.76 (t,J= 5.0, 2H, H-20), 2.66 (t,J= 5.0, 2H, H-18), 1.89 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.69 (m, 2H, H-36), 1.53 (t,J= 7, 3H, H-44), 1.37 (m, 2H, H-37), 1.32 (m, 2H, H-38), 1.24 (m, 2H, H-39), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-40), 0.82 (t,J= 6.9, 3H, H-42). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 166.0 (s, C-34), 165.3 (s, C-12), 153.9 (s, C-25), 143.4 (d, C-23), 143.0 (s, C-22), 142.5 (d, C-27), 141.0 (s, C-9), 139.1 (s, C-29), 137.4 (s, C-32), 135.0 (d, C-31), 133.4 (d, C-16), 130.3 (d, C-33), 130.1 (s, C-2), 129.8 (s, C-10), 129.8 (d, C-7), 129.8 (d, C-3), 128.1 (s, C-1), 127.5 (s, C-21), 127.2 (d, C-5), 126.9 (s, C-28), 124.0 (s, C-17), 123.2 (d, C-4), 121.6 (d, C-6), 120.6 (d, C-26), 117.3 (d, C-30), 113.6 (d, C-24), 110.6 (d, C-8), 94.8 (d, C-15), 48.6 (s, C-11), 45.7 (t, C-43), 42.3 (t, C-35), 31.2 (t, C-40), 28.7 (t, C-38), 28.6 (t, C-39), 27.1 (q, C-13, 14), 26.7 (t, C-20), 26.4 (t, C-36), 26.1 (t, C-37), 25.7 (t, C-18), 22.0 (t, C-41), 20.7 (t, C-19), 13.9 (q, C-42), 13.4 (q, C-44). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 5w, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1, 6w, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 12, 13 & 14w, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18, 22), H-18 → C-(17, 19, 20, 22), H-19 → C-(17, 21), H-20 → C-(18, 19, 21, 22), H-23 → C-(20, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21, 23w, 26), H-26 → C-(24w, 25, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 28w, 29, 33), H-30 → C-(28, 32), H-31 → C-(29, 33, 34), H-33 → C-(27, 28w, 29, 31, 34), H-35 → C-(9, 12, 37), H-36 → C-(37, 38), H-37 → C-(39), H-40 → C-(42), H-42 → C-(40, 41), H-43 → C-(25, 29, 44). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-30 → H-(31), H-31 → H-(30, 33), H-33 → H-(31), H-35 → H-(36), H-36 → H-(35, 37), H-37 → H-(36), H-41 → H-(42), H-42 → H-(41), H-43 → H-(44), H-44 → H-(43). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C44H50ClN2O2 [M-I]+: 673.3555. Found: 673.3546. Elemental analysis: calculated for C44H50ClIN2O2: C, 65.96%; H, 6.29%; N, 3.50%; O, 3.99%; Cl, 4.42%; I, 15.84%. Found: C, 72.27%; H, 6.73%; N, 3.92%; O, 5.62%; Cl, 5.04%; I, 5.15%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2927, 2856, 1704, 1617, 1540, 1430, 1342, 1224, 1039, 744.


### 2.2.3. 2-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Iodide (Hepta3)

Half dyeS12 (4.9 mmol, 3.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (4.9 mmol, 2.16 g), and sodium acetate (9.8 mmol, 0.8 g) were suspended in ethanol (120 mL) and heated to reflux for 48 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C overnight. The precipitate was collected by filtration. For further purification, the dye was recrystallized from methanol twice (60 mL) to yield green crystals ofHepta3 (0.61 g, 18%). d.p. 244°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.57 (s, 1H, OH), 8.85 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-7), 8.45 (d,J= 9.3, 1H, H-3), 8.45 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-8), 8.31 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-11), 8.29 (dd,J= 8.0, 1.2, 1H, H-6), 8.11 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.87 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.87 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.84 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-27), 7.69 (d,J= 12.8, H, H-18), 7.03 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-26), 7.02 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-10), 5.81 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-19), 4.94 (t,J= 7.4, 2H, H-31), 3.85 (t,J= 6.5, 2H, H-39), 2.74 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.65 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.88 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.62 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.60 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 1.52 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.35 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2-1.3 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 0.83, 0.85 (m, 6H, H-38, 46). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.2 (s, C-30), 161.5 (s, C-20), 154.7 (s, C-9), 147.5 (s, C-25), 143.5 (d, C-11), 143.1 (d, C-7), 141.9 (s, C-17), 139.0 (s, C-24), 138.5 (s, C-2), 134.8 (d, C-4), 131.2 (d, C-18), 130.7 (d, C-27), 130.2 (d, C-6), 128.6 (s, C-12), 128.5 (d, C-5), 127.6 (s, C-1), 125.3 (s, C-16), 123.0 (d, C-29), 122.9 (s, C-28), 121.2 (d, C-8), 118.7 (d, C-3), 116.2 (d, C-10), 107.5 (d, C-26), 95.8 (d, C-19), 50.0 (t, C-31), 45.8 (s, C-21), 41.9 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 28.6 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 28.1 (t, C-32), 27.8 (q, C-22, 23), 26.8 (t, C-13), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.9 (t, C-40), 25.7 (t, C-33), 25.7 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 20.8 (t, C-14), 13.9, 14.0 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 6), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(9, 10w), H-10 → C-(8, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13, 17), H-13 → C-(12, 17), H-15 → C-(16), H-18 → C-(15, 17), H-19 → C-(21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23, 24), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 30), H-31 → C-(2, 9w), H-35, 42, 43 → C-(36, 44), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 45). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(7), H-8 → H-(8), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32, 34), H-34 → H-(33), H-37, 45 → H-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → H-(37, 45), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C46H60ClN2O2[M-I]+: 707.4338. Found: 707.4334. Elemental analysis: calculated for C46H60ClIN2O2: C, 66.14%; H, 7.24%; N, 3.35%; O, 3.83%; Cl, 4.24%; I, 15.19%. Found: C, 66.15%; H, 7.29%; N, 3.32%; O, 3.92%; Cl, 4.03%; I, 14.89%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2923, 2854, 1708, 1663, 1600, 1566, 1453, 1270, 1120, 935, 772.


### 2.2.4. 2-(2-(6-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Iodide (Hepta4).

Half dyeS16 (3.8 mmol, 2.50 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8(3.8 mmol, 1.69 g), and sodium acetate (8.9 mmol, 0.6 g) were suspended in ethanol (60 mL) and heated to reflux for 48 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C for 12 h. Subsequently, the precipitated starting material was removed by filtration. The volume of the filtrate was reduced to half under reduced pressure and stored at 4°C for 20 h. Finally, a fine crystalline powder precipitated, which was collected by filtration. The crude product was further purified by recrystallization from ethanol to yield the pure dyeHepta4(0.42 g, 12.6%). m.p. 160°C. d.p. 220°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.50 (s, H, OH), 8.60 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-7), 8.34 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-3), 8.12 (d,J= 8.0, 1H, H-6), 8.04 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.78 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-27), 7.76 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.69 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.56 (m, 2H, H-49, 51), 7.54 (m, 1H, H-50), 7.45 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-8), 7.32 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-11), 7.21 (d,J= 7.7, 2H, H-48, 52), 6.96 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-26), 6.82 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-10), 6.42 (d,J= 12.9, 1H, H-18), 5.78 (d,J= 12.9, 1H, H-19), 4.82 (m, 2H, H-31), 3.79 (m, 2H, H-39), 2.72 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.63 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.95 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.83 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.58 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.53 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.39 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.31 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2–1.4 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 1.05 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 0.84, 0.87 (t,J= 7.0, 6H, H-38, 46). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.1 (s, C-30), 160.5 (s, C-20), 154.5 (s, C-17), 154.3 (s, C-9), 147.5 (s, C-25), 146.6 (d, C-11), 142.4 (d, C-7), 138.7 (s, C-24), 138.4 (s, C-2), 138.3 (s, C-47), 135.0 (d, C-18), 134.6 (d, C-4), 130.9 (s, C-16), 130.6 (s, C-12), 130.6 (d, C-27), 130.1 (d, C-6), 129.8 (d, C-48, 52), 128.3 (d, C-49, 51), 128.0 (d, C-5), 127.8 (d, C-50), 126.9 (s, C-1), 122.7 (s, C-28), 122.7 (d, C-29), 119.6 (d, C-8), 118.3 (d, C-3), 112.5 (d, C-10), 107.3 (d, C-26), 96.1 (d, C-19), 49.7 (t, C-31), 45.2 (s, C-21), 41.9 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 28.5 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 27.9 (t, C-32), 27.3 (q, C-22, 23), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.8 (t, C-40), 25.6 (t, C-33), 25.1 (t, C-13), 24.3 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 21.2 (t, C-14), 13.9, 14.0 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w, 6w), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 9, 10w), H-10 → C-(8, 11w, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13), H-13 → C-(12, 14, 15, 17), H-14 → C-(12, 16), H-15 → C-(13, 14, 16, 17), H-18 → C-(15, 17, 20), H-19 → C-(16, 20, 21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23, 24), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 27, 30), H-31 → C-(2, 9, 32), H-32 → C-(31), H-33 → C-(31, 32, 35), H-35, 42, 43 → C-(36, 44), H-36, 44 → C-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 38), H-39 → C-(20, 25, 41), H-40 → C-(41, 42), H-48, 52 → C-(17, 48, 52, 50), H-49, 51 → C-(47, 49, 51), H-50 → C-(48, 52). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26, 29w), H-29 → H-(27w), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40), H-48, 52 → H-(49, 51), H-49, 51 → H-(48, 52). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C52H65N2O2 [M-I]+: 749.5041. Found: 749.5039. Elemental analysis: calculated for C52H65IN2O2: C, 71.22%; H, 7.47%; N, 3.19%; O, 3.65%; I, 14.47%. Found: C, 70.82%; H, 7.60%; N, 3.17%; O, 4.03%; I, 14.23%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2924, 2854, 1707, 1669, 1453, 1143, 1104, 1049, 993, 745.


### 2.2.5. 4-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Perchlorate (Hepta5)

Half dyeS14 (6.52 mmol, 4.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (6.52 mmol, 2.89 g), and sodium acetate (13.04 mmol, 1.08 g) were suspended in ethanol (160 mL) and heated to reflux for 96 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature. Precipitated half dye was separated by filtration. The volume of the filtrate was concentrated to half under reduced pressure and, subsequently, slowly dropped to a warm (60°C) ethanolic sodium perchlorate solution (50 mL, 7 wt%). In order to complete ion exchange, the solution was stirred and heated for 1 h. Finally, the solution was slowly cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C for 5 d. Precipitated crystals were isolated by filtration, washed with ethanol twice (20 mL each), and dried under reduced pressure at 40°C to yield the dyeHepta5 (0.45 g, 8.5%). d.p. 246°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.52 (s, 1H, OH), 9.14 (d,J= 6.7, 1H, H-7), 8.88 (dd,J= 8.9, 1.1, 1H, H-5), 8.46 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-2), 8.31 (d,J= 6.7, 1H, H-8), 8.28 (d,J= 15.4, 1H, H-11), 8.19 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.95 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.85 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-29), 7.83 (dd,J= 8.2, 1.6, 1H, H-27), 7.63 (d,J= 15.4, 1H, H-10), 7.61 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-18), 6.99 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-26), 5.77 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-19), 4.89 (t,J= 7.3, 2H, H-31), 3.82 (m, 2H, H-39), 2.81 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.64 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.91 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.62 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.60 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 1.38 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.27 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2–1.4 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 0.84 (t,J= 7, 6H, H-38, 46), 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.2 (s, C-30), 160.1 (s, C-20), 152.2 (s, C-9), 147.7 (s, C-25), 146.7 (d, C-7), 139.9 (s, C-17), 139.9 (d, C-11), 138.8 (s, C-24), 137.8 (s, C-1), 134.8 (d, C-3), 130.7 (d, C-27), 129.5 (s, C-12), 129.4 (d, C-18), 128.9 (d, C-4), 126.5 (s, C-6), 126.5 (d, C-5), 125.6 (s, C-16), 122.9 (d, C-29), 122.6 (s, C-28), 119.0 (d, C-2), 118.9 (d, C-10), 115.6 (d, C-8), 107.1 (d, C-26), 95.5 (d, C-19), 56.3 (t, C-31), 45.5 (s, C-21), 41.8 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 29.3 (t, C-32), 28.5 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 27.8 (q, C-22, 23), 27.0 (t, C-13), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.8 (t, C-40), 25.8 (t, C-33), 25.8 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 20.8 (t, C-14), 13.9 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-2 → C-(4, 6), H-3 → C-(1, 2w, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 3w, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w, 9), H-7 → C-(1, 8, 9, 31), H-8 → C-(6, 7, 10), H-10 → C-(6, 8, 9w, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13, 17), H-13 → C-(11, 12, 14, 15, 17), H-14 → C-(12, 16), H-15 → C-(13, 14, 16, 17, 18w), H-18 → C-(15, 17, 20), H-19 → C-(16, 20, 21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 27, 30), H-31 → C-(1, 7, 32, 33), H-32 → C-(31, 33, 34), H-37, 45 → C-(36, 44, 38, 46), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 45), H-39 → C-(20, 25, 40, 41). DQF-COSY correlations: H-2 → H-(3), H-3 → H-(2, 4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-37, 45 → H-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → H-(37, 45), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C46H60Cl2N2O6[M-ClO4]+: 707.4338. Found: 707.4336. Elemental analysis: calculated for C46H60Cl2N2O6: C, 68.39%; H, 7.49%; N, 3.47%; O, 11.88%; Cl, 8.78%. Found: C, 68.18%; H, 7.71%; N, 3.42%; O, 12.17%; Cl, 8.67%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2925, 2853, 1709, 1688, 1568, 1161, 1076, 771.


### 2.2.6. 2-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3-ethylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta6)

Half dyeS15 (1.87 mmol, 1.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (1.87 mmol, 0.83 g), and sodium acetate (4.1 mmol, 0.33 g) were suspended in ethanol (50 mL) and heated to reflux for 18 h. After the reaction, the suspension was cooled to room temperature. The precipitated starting materials were removed by filtration. The filtrate was reduced to half under reduced pressure and stored at −20°C for 14 h. Subsequently, the viscose suspension was dropped into hexane (50 mL) and stored at 4°C for 15 h until fine green shiny crystals precipitated. The crystals were isolated by filtration and recrystallized from ethanol (30 mL) to yield the dyeHepta6 (0.31 g, 22.5%). d.p. 255°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.65 (s, 1H, OH), 8.28 (dd,J= 8.1, 0.8, 1H, H-5), 8.21 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-9), 8.15 (d,J= 8.5, 1H, H-2), 7.92 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-27), 7.87 (dd,J= 8.3, 1.6, 1H, H-25), 7.81 (d,J= 13.2, 1H, H-16), 7.79 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.68 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.14 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-8), 7.13 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-24), 5.89 (d,J= 13.2, 1H, H-17), 4.81 (q,J= 7.2, 2H, H-29), 3.92 (m, 2H, H-31), 2.74 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-11), 2.66 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-13), 1.84 (m, 2H, H-12), 1.64 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.61 (s, 6H, H-20, 21), 1.40 (t,J= 7.2, 3H, H-30), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.28 (m, 4H, H-34, 35), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-37), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-36), 0.83 (t,J= 7.0, 3H, H-38). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 169.5 (s, C-7), 167.1 (s, C-28), 163.6 (s, C-18), 147.2 (s, C-23), 144.2 (d, C-9), 143.8 (s, C-15), 141.2 (s, C-1), 139.3 (s, C-22), 134.0 (d, C-16), 130.7 (d, C-25), 129.2 (d, C-3), 127.9 (s, C-10), 127.6 (d, C-4), 127.5 (s, C-6), 125.5 (s, C-14), 124.1 (d, C-5), 123.8 (s, C-26), 123.0 (d, C-27), 115.8 (d, C-2), 109.2 (d, C-8), 108.2 (d, C-24), 96.7 (d, C-17), 46.3 (s, C-19), 43.5 (t, C-29), 42.3 (t, C-31), 31.2 (t, C-36), 28.6 (t, C-34, 35), 27.8 (q, C-20, 21), 26.7 (t, C-11), 26.1 (t, C-33), 26.1 (t, C-32), 25.7 (t, C-13), 22.0 (t, C-37), 20.5 (t, C-12), 14.0 (q, C-38), 13.8 (q, C-30). HMBC correlations: H-2 → C-(4, 6), H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-8 → C-(7, 9w, 10), H-9 → C-(7, 11, 15), H-11 → C-(9w, 10, 13, 15), H-12 → C-(10, 14), H-13 → C-(11, 14, 15, 16w), H-16 → C-(13, 18), H-17 → C-(14, 18w, 19), H-20, 21 → C-(18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), H-24 → C-(22, 26), H-25 → C-(23, 27, 28), H-27 → C-(19, 23, 25, 28), H-29 → C-(1, 7, 30), H-30 → C-(29), H-31 → C-(18, 23, 33), H-32 → C-(33, 34), H-33 → C-(32, 35), H-34, 35 → C-(36), H-37 → C-(35, 36), H-38 → C-(36, 37). DQF-COSY correlations: H-2 → H-(3), H-3 → H-(2, 4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4), H-8 → H-(9), H-9 → H-(8), H-11 → H-(12), H-12 → H-(11, 13), H-13 → H-(12), H-16 → H-(17), H-17 → H-(16), H-24 → H-(25), H-25 → H-(24, 27), H-27 → H-(25), H-29 → H-(30), H-30 → H-(29), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-37 → H-(38), H-38 → H-(37). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C38H46ClN2O2S [M-I]+: 629.2963. Found: 629.2957. Elemental analysis: calculated for C38H46ClIN2O2S: C, 60.28%; H, 6.12%; N, 3.70%; O, 4.23%; S, 4.23%; Cl, 4.68%; I, 16.76%. Found: C, 60.02%; H, 6.16%; N, 3.72%; O, 4.48%; S, 4.16%; Cl, 4.49%; I, 16.69%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2923, 2852, 1705, 1604, 1548, 1359, 1096, 1049, 927, 754.


### 2.2.7. 5-Carboxy-2-(2-(2-chloro-3-(2-(3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indol-2-ylidene)ethylidene)cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium (Hepta7)

Half dyeS11 (2.55 mmol, 1.52 g) and anchor groupS8 (2.9 mmol, 1.29 g) were dissolved in ethanol (50 mL) and heated to reflux under argon for 96 h. Then, the mixture was slowly cooled down to −15°C and stored at this temperature overnight. Since no product crystallized the solution was warmed up to room temperature and the desired crude product was isolated by slow crystallization from ethanol/diethyl ether mixture. Further purification by recrystallization from ethanol yielded pure dyeHepta7 (1.3 g, 65%). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.78 (s (br), 1H, OH), 8.52 (d,J= 15.0, 1H, H-16), 8.38 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-3), 8.20 (d,J= 9, 1H, H-7), 8.14 (d,J= 8.4, 1H, H-6), 8.04 (d,J= 13.5, 1H, H-23), 8.01 (d,J= 1.4, 1H, H-34), 7.94 (d,J= 9, 1H, H-8), 7.93 (dd,J= 8.4, 1.4, 1H, H-32), 7.72 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.61 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.28 (d,J= 8.4, 1H, H-31), 6.70 (d,J= 15, 1H, H-15), 6.08 (d,J= 13.5, 1H, H-24), 4.56 (q,J= 7.2, 2H, H-36), 4.04 (m, 2H, H-38), 2.77 (m, 2H, H-18), 2.71 (m, 2H, H-20), 1.95 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.87 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.68 (m, 2H, H-39), 1.65 (s, 6H, H-27, 28), 1.42 (t,J= 7.2, 3H, H-37), 1.35 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.28 (m, 4H, H-41, 42), 1.24 (m, 2H, H-44), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-43), 0.83 (t,J= 7.1, 3H, H-45). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 177.2 (s, C-12), 167.1 (s, C-35), 167.1 (s, C-25), 147.1 (s, C-22), 146.5 (s, C-30), 145.6 (d, C-16), 139.9 (s, C-29), 138.7 (s, C-9), 138.0 (d, C-23), 136.1 (s, C-10), 132.2 (s, C-1), 130.8 (d, C-7), 130.6 (d, C-32), 129.8 (d, C-6), 128.1 (d, C-4), 128.0 (s, C-17), 127.0 (s, C-2), 126.3 (s, C-21), 126.1 (d, C-5), 124.9 (s, C-33), 123.1 (d, C-34), 122.7 (d, C-3), 112.2 (d, C-8), 109.3 (d, C-31), 105.6 (d, C-15), 98.6 (d, C-24), 52.0 (s, C-11), 47.2 (s, C-26), 42.8 (t, C-38), 40.6 (t, C-36), 31.1 (t, C-43), 28.5 (t, C-41, 42), 27.6 (q, C-27, 28), 26.6 (q, C-13, 14), 26.3 (t, C-39), 26.0 (t, C-40), 25.9 (t, C-18), 25.7 (t, C-20), 22.0 (t, C-44), 20.3 (t, C-19), 13.9 (q, C-45), 13.0 (q, C-37). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-6 → C-(2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18w, 22), H-23 → C-(20w, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21w, 26), H-27, 28 → C-(25, 26, 27, 28, 29), H-31 → C-(29, 33), H-32 → C-(30, 32w, 34, 35), H-34 → C-(30, 32, 35), H-37 → C-(36), H-45 → C-(43, 44). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31), H-36 → H-(37), H-37 → H-(36), H-38 → H-(39), H-39 → H-(38, 40), H-40 → H-(39), H-44 → H-(45), H-45 → H-(44). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C45H54ClN2O2 [M-I]+: 689.3868. Found: 689.3854.


## 2.2.1. 2-(2-(3-(2-(6-Carboxy-1-ethylquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta1)

Half dyeS11 (1.54 mmol, 0.92 g) was dissolved in anhydrous ethanol (40 mL). Subsequently, 6-carboxy-1-ethyl-2-methylquinolin-1-ium bromideS10(1.54 mmol, 0.46 g) and sodium acetate were added to the solution at room temperature. Then, the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 1 h, and the product started to precipitate. In order to dilute the thick suspension, ethanol (40 mL) was added and heating was continued for 15 h under vigorous stirring. Finally, the suspension was chilled to room temperature. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with cold ethanol three times (50 mL), and dried under reduced pressure at 40°C to yield the dyeHepta1 (0.77 g, 75%). d.p. 223°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 8.76 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-27), 8.66 (d,J= 1.9, 1H, H-33), 8.43 (dd,J= 9.1, 1.9, 1H, H-31), 8.36 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-26), 8.36 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-23), 8.30 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-30), 8.16 (d,J= 8.6, 1H, H-3), 7.97 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-16), 7.94 (m, 1H, H-6), 7.94 (d,J= 8.8, 1H, H-7), 7.53 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.50 (d,J= 8.8, 1H, H-8), 7.35 (m, 1H, H-5), 6.86 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-24), 5.87 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-15), 4.91 (q,J= 7.1, 2H, H-37), 4.08 (q,J= 7.0, 2H, H-35), 2.77 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-20), 2.69 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-18), 1.91 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.88 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.53 (t,J= 7.1, 3H, H-38), 1.26 (t,J= 7.0, 3H, H-36). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 166.0 (s, C-34), 165.3 (s, C-12), 153.8 (s, C-25), 143.5 (d, C-23), 143.3 (s, C-22), 142.1 (d, C-27), 140.4 (s, C-9), 139.4 (s, C-29), 135.6 (s, C-32), 134.6 (d, C-31), 134.0 (d, C-16), 130.4 (d, C-33), 130.1 (s, C-10), 13.2 (q, C-38), 129.9 (s, C-1), 129.7 (d, C-7), 129.7 (d, C-6), 128.1 (s, C-2), 127.3 (s, C-21), 127.1 (d, C-4), 126.7 (s, C-28), 124.1 (s, C-17), 123.2 (d, C-5), 121.6 (d, C-3), 120.7 (d, C-26), 117.5 (d, C-30), 113.0 (d, C-24), 110.3 (d, C-8), 94.8 (d, C-15), 48.6 (s, C-11), 45.5 (t, C-37), 37.3 (t, C-35), 26.9 (q, C-13, 14), 26.6 (t, C-20), 25.6 (t, C-18), 20.6 (t, C-19), 11.7 (q, C-36). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 2w, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 12w, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18, 22), H-18 → C-(19, 20, 21w, 22), H-19 → C-(17, 21), H-20 → C-(17w, 18, 19, 22), H-23 → C-(20, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21, 23w, 26), H-26 → C-(24w, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 33), H-30 → C-(28, 31w, 32), H-31 → C-(29, 33, 34), H-33 → C-(27, 28w, 29, 31, 34), H-35 → C-(9, 12, 36), H-36 → C-(35), H-37 → C-(25, 29, 38), H-38 → C-(37). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-30 → H-(31), H-31 → H-(30, 33), H-33 → H-(31), H-35 → H-(36), H-36 → H-(35), H-37 → H-(38), H-38 → H-(37). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C38H38ClN2O2[M-I]+: 589.2616. Found: 589.2611. Elemental analysis: calculated for C38H38N2O2ClI: C, 63.65%; H, 5.34%; N, 3.91%; O, 4.46%; Cl, 4.94%; I, 17.70%. Found: C, 65.58%; H, 5.88%; N, 4.98%. IR (ATR, cm−1): λmax⁡ 3397, 2975, 2932, 2868, 1701, 1621, 1551, 1429, 1234, 1146, 1031, 995.


## 2.2.2. 2-(2-(3-(2-(6-Carboxy-1-ethylquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1,1-dimethyl-3-octyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta2)

Half dyeS13 (4.41 mmol, 3.00 g), 6-carboxy-1-ethyl-2-methylquinolinium bromideS10 (4.41 mmol, 1.30 g), and sodium acetate (8.8 mmol, 0.72 g) were suspended in ethanol (120 mL). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 18 h and subsequently cooled to room temperature. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with cold ethanol twice (50 mL), and dried at 40°C under reduced pressure. For further purification, the product was recrystallized from methanol to yield brown crystals ofHepta2 (1.98 g, 56%). d.p. 206°C, 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 8.78 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-27), 8.63 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-33), 8.44 (dd,J= 9.2, 1.6, 1H, H-31), 8.34 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-26), 8.32 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-23), 8.29 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-30), 8.14 (d,J= 8.7, 1H, H-6), 7.92 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.91 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-16), 7.90 (m, 1H, H-7), 7.53 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.48 (d,J= 8.9, 1H, H-8), 7.34 (m, 1H, H-4), 6.89 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-24), 5.82 (d,J= 13.3, 1H, H-15), 4.93 (q (br),J= 7, 2H, H-43), 4.00 (m, 2H, H-35), 2.76 (t,J= 5.0, 2H, H-20), 2.66 (t,J= 5.0, 2H, H-18), 1.89 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.69 (m, 2H, H-36), 1.53 (t,J= 7, 3H, H-44), 1.37 (m, 2H, H-37), 1.32 (m, 2H, H-38), 1.24 (m, 2H, H-39), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-40), 0.82 (t,J= 6.9, 3H, H-42). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 166.0 (s, C-34), 165.3 (s, C-12), 153.9 (s, C-25), 143.4 (d, C-23), 143.0 (s, C-22), 142.5 (d, C-27), 141.0 (s, C-9), 139.1 (s, C-29), 137.4 (s, C-32), 135.0 (d, C-31), 133.4 (d, C-16), 130.3 (d, C-33), 130.1 (s, C-2), 129.8 (s, C-10), 129.8 (d, C-7), 129.8 (d, C-3), 128.1 (s, C-1), 127.5 (s, C-21), 127.2 (d, C-5), 126.9 (s, C-28), 124.0 (s, C-17), 123.2 (d, C-4), 121.6 (d, C-6), 120.6 (d, C-26), 117.3 (d, C-30), 113.6 (d, C-24), 110.6 (d, C-8), 94.8 (d, C-15), 48.6 (s, C-11), 45.7 (t, C-43), 42.3 (t, C-35), 31.2 (t, C-40), 28.7 (t, C-38), 28.6 (t, C-39), 27.1 (q, C-13, 14), 26.7 (t, C-20), 26.4 (t, C-36), 26.1 (t, C-37), 25.7 (t, C-18), 22.0 (t, C-41), 20.7 (t, C-19), 13.9 (q, C-42), 13.4 (q, C-44). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 5w, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1, 6w, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 12, 13 & 14w, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18, 22), H-18 → C-(17, 19, 20, 22), H-19 → C-(17, 21), H-20 → C-(18, 19, 21, 22), H-23 → C-(20, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21, 23w, 26), H-26 → C-(24w, 25, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 28w, 29, 33), H-30 → C-(28, 32), H-31 → C-(29, 33, 34), H-33 → C-(27, 28w, 29, 31, 34), H-35 → C-(9, 12, 37), H-36 → C-(37, 38), H-37 → C-(39), H-40 → C-(42), H-42 → C-(40, 41), H-43 → C-(25, 29, 44). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-30 → H-(31), H-31 → H-(30, 33), H-33 → H-(31), H-35 → H-(36), H-36 → H-(35, 37), H-37 → H-(36), H-41 → H-(42), H-42 → H-(41), H-43 → H-(44), H-44 → H-(43). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C44H50ClN2O2 [M-I]+: 673.3555. Found: 673.3546. Elemental analysis: calculated for C44H50ClIN2O2: C, 65.96%; H, 6.29%; N, 3.50%; O, 3.99%; Cl, 4.42%; I, 15.84%. Found: C, 72.27%; H, 6.73%; N, 3.92%; O, 5.62%; Cl, 5.04%; I, 5.15%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2927, 2856, 1704, 1617, 1540, 1430, 1342, 1224, 1039, 744.


## 2.2.3. 2-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Iodide (Hepta3)

Half dyeS12 (4.9 mmol, 3.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (4.9 mmol, 2.16 g), and sodium acetate (9.8 mmol, 0.8 g) were suspended in ethanol (120 mL) and heated to reflux for 48 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C overnight. The precipitate was collected by filtration. For further purification, the dye was recrystallized from methanol twice (60 mL) to yield green crystals ofHepta3 (0.61 g, 18%). d.p. 244°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.57 (s, 1H, OH), 8.85 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-7), 8.45 (d,J= 9.3, 1H, H-3), 8.45 (d,J= 9.2, 1H, H-8), 8.31 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-11), 8.29 (dd,J= 8.0, 1.2, 1H, H-6), 8.11 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.87 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.87 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.84 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-27), 7.69 (d,J= 12.8, H, H-18), 7.03 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-26), 7.02 (d,J= 14.6, 1H, H-10), 5.81 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-19), 4.94 (t,J= 7.4, 2H, H-31), 3.85 (t,J= 6.5, 2H, H-39), 2.74 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.65 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.88 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.62 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.60 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 1.52 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.35 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2-1.3 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 0.83, 0.85 (m, 6H, H-38, 46). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.2 (s, C-30), 161.5 (s, C-20), 154.7 (s, C-9), 147.5 (s, C-25), 143.5 (d, C-11), 143.1 (d, C-7), 141.9 (s, C-17), 139.0 (s, C-24), 138.5 (s, C-2), 134.8 (d, C-4), 131.2 (d, C-18), 130.7 (d, C-27), 130.2 (d, C-6), 128.6 (s, C-12), 128.5 (d, C-5), 127.6 (s, C-1), 125.3 (s, C-16), 123.0 (d, C-29), 122.9 (s, C-28), 121.2 (d, C-8), 118.7 (d, C-3), 116.2 (d, C-10), 107.5 (d, C-26), 95.8 (d, C-19), 50.0 (t, C-31), 45.8 (s, C-21), 41.9 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 28.6 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 28.1 (t, C-32), 27.8 (q, C-22, 23), 26.8 (t, C-13), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.9 (t, C-40), 25.7 (t, C-33), 25.7 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 20.8 (t, C-14), 13.9, 14.0 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 6), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(9, 10w), H-10 → C-(8, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13, 17), H-13 → C-(12, 17), H-15 → C-(16), H-18 → C-(15, 17), H-19 → C-(21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23, 24), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 30), H-31 → C-(2, 9w), H-35, 42, 43 → C-(36, 44), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 45). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(7), H-8 → H-(8), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32, 34), H-34 → H-(33), H-37, 45 → H-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → H-(37, 45), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C46H60ClN2O2[M-I]+: 707.4338. Found: 707.4334. Elemental analysis: calculated for C46H60ClIN2O2: C, 66.14%; H, 7.24%; N, 3.35%; O, 3.83%; Cl, 4.24%; I, 15.19%. Found: C, 66.15%; H, 7.29%; N, 3.32%; O, 3.92%; Cl, 4.03%; I, 14.89%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2923, 2854, 1708, 1663, 1600, 1566, 1453, 1270, 1120, 935, 772.


## 2.2.4. 2-(2-(6-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Iodide (Hepta4).

Half dyeS16 (3.8 mmol, 2.50 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8(3.8 mmol, 1.69 g), and sodium acetate (8.9 mmol, 0.6 g) were suspended in ethanol (60 mL) and heated to reflux for 48 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C for 12 h. Subsequently, the precipitated starting material was removed by filtration. The volume of the filtrate was reduced to half under reduced pressure and stored at 4°C for 20 h. Finally, a fine crystalline powder precipitated, which was collected by filtration. The crude product was further purified by recrystallization from ethanol to yield the pure dyeHepta4(0.42 g, 12.6%). m.p. 160°C. d.p. 220°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.50 (s, H, OH), 8.60 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-7), 8.34 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-3), 8.12 (d,J= 8.0, 1H, H-6), 8.04 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.78 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-27), 7.76 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.69 (s, 1H, H-29), 7.56 (m, 2H, H-49, 51), 7.54 (m, 1H, H-50), 7.45 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-8), 7.32 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-11), 7.21 (d,J= 7.7, 2H, H-48, 52), 6.96 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-26), 6.82 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-10), 6.42 (d,J= 12.9, 1H, H-18), 5.78 (d,J= 12.9, 1H, H-19), 4.82 (m, 2H, H-31), 3.79 (m, 2H, H-39), 2.72 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.63 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.95 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.83 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.58 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.53 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.39 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.31 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2–1.4 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 1.05 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 0.84, 0.87 (t,J= 7.0, 6H, H-38, 46). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.1 (s, C-30), 160.5 (s, C-20), 154.5 (s, C-17), 154.3 (s, C-9), 147.5 (s, C-25), 146.6 (d, C-11), 142.4 (d, C-7), 138.7 (s, C-24), 138.4 (s, C-2), 138.3 (s, C-47), 135.0 (d, C-18), 134.6 (d, C-4), 130.9 (s, C-16), 130.6 (s, C-12), 130.6 (d, C-27), 130.1 (d, C-6), 129.8 (d, C-48, 52), 128.3 (d, C-49, 51), 128.0 (d, C-5), 127.8 (d, C-50), 126.9 (s, C-1), 122.7 (s, C-28), 122.7 (d, C-29), 119.6 (d, C-8), 118.3 (d, C-3), 112.5 (d, C-10), 107.3 (d, C-26), 96.1 (d, C-19), 49.7 (t, C-31), 45.2 (s, C-21), 41.9 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 28.5 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 27.9 (t, C-32), 27.3 (q, C-22, 23), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.8 (t, C-40), 25.6 (t, C-33), 25.1 (t, C-13), 24.3 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 21.2 (t, C-14), 13.9, 14.0 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w, 6w), H-6 → C-(1w, 2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 9, 10w), H-10 → C-(8, 11w, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13), H-13 → C-(12, 14, 15, 17), H-14 → C-(12, 16), H-15 → C-(13, 14, 16, 17), H-18 → C-(15, 17, 20), H-19 → C-(16, 20, 21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23, 24), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 27, 30), H-31 → C-(2, 9, 32), H-32 → C-(31), H-33 → C-(31, 32, 35), H-35, 42, 43 → C-(36, 44), H-36, 44 → C-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 38), H-39 → C-(20, 25, 41), H-40 → C-(41, 42), H-48, 52 → C-(17, 48, 52, 50), H-49, 51 → C-(47, 49, 51), H-50 → C-(48, 52). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26, 29w), H-29 → H-(27w), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40), H-48, 52 → H-(49, 51), H-49, 51 → H-(48, 52). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C52H65N2O2 [M-I]+: 749.5041. Found: 749.5039. Elemental analysis: calculated for C52H65IN2O2: C, 71.22%; H, 7.47%; N, 3.19%; O, 3.65%; I, 14.47%. Found: C, 70.82%; H, 7.60%; N, 3.17%; O, 4.03%; I, 14.23%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2924, 2854, 1707, 1669, 1453, 1143, 1104, 1049, 993, 745.


## 2.2.5. 4-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-1-octylquinolin-1-ium Perchlorate (Hepta5)

Half dyeS14 (6.52 mmol, 4.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (6.52 mmol, 2.89 g), and sodium acetate (13.04 mmol, 1.08 g) were suspended in ethanol (160 mL) and heated to reflux for 96 h. Then, the suspension was cooled to room temperature. Precipitated half dye was separated by filtration. The volume of the filtrate was concentrated to half under reduced pressure and, subsequently, slowly dropped to a warm (60°C) ethanolic sodium perchlorate solution (50 mL, 7 wt%). In order to complete ion exchange, the solution was stirred and heated for 1 h. Finally, the solution was slowly cooled to room temperature and stored at 4°C for 5 d. Precipitated crystals were isolated by filtration, washed with ethanol twice (20 mL each), and dried under reduced pressure at 40°C to yield the dyeHepta5 (0.45 g, 8.5%). d.p. 246°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.52 (s, 1H, OH), 9.14 (d,J= 6.7, 1H, H-7), 8.88 (dd,J= 8.9, 1.1, 1H, H-5), 8.46 (d,J= 9.1, 1H, H-2), 8.31 (d,J= 6.7, 1H, H-8), 8.28 (d,J= 15.4, 1H, H-11), 8.19 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.95 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.85 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-29), 7.83 (dd,J= 8.2, 1.6, 1H, H-27), 7.63 (d,J= 15.4, 1H, H-10), 7.61 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-18), 6.99 (d,J= 8.2, 1H, H-26), 5.77 (d,J= 12.8, 1H, H-19), 4.89 (t,J= 7.3, 2H, H-31), 3.82 (m, 2H, H-39), 2.81 (m, 2H, H-13), 2.64 (m, 2H, H-15), 1.91 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.85 (m, 2H, H-14), 1.62 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.60 (s, 6H, H-22, 23), 1.38 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-41), 1.27 (m, 2H, H-34), 1.25 (m, 4H, H-37, 45), 1.23 (m, 4H, H-36, 44), 1.2–1.4 (m, 6H, H-35, 42, 43), 0.84 (t,J= 7, 6H, H-38, 46), 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 167.2 (s, C-30), 160.1 (s, C-20), 152.2 (s, C-9), 147.7 (s, C-25), 146.7 (d, C-7), 139.9 (s, C-17), 139.9 (d, C-11), 138.8 (s, C-24), 137.8 (s, C-1), 134.8 (d, C-3), 130.7 (d, C-27), 129.5 (s, C-12), 129.4 (d, C-18), 128.9 (d, C-4), 126.5 (s, C-6), 126.5 (d, C-5), 125.6 (s, C-16), 122.9 (d, C-29), 122.6 (s, C-28), 119.0 (d, C-2), 118.9 (d, C-10), 115.6 (d, C-8), 107.1 (d, C-26), 95.5 (d, C-19), 56.3 (t, C-31), 45.5 (s, C-21), 41.8 (t, C-39), 31.2 (t, C-36, 44), 29.3 (t, C-32), 28.5 (t, C-34), 28.4–28.6 (t, C-35, 42, 43), 27.8 (q, C-22, 23), 27.0 (t, C-13), 26.1 (t, C-41), 25.8 (t, C-40), 25.8 (t, C-33), 25.8 (t, C-15), 22.0 (t, C-37, 45), 20.8 (t, C-14), 13.9 (q, C-38, 46). HMBC correlations: H-2 → C-(4, 6), H-3 → C-(1, 2w, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 3w, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3, 4w, 9), H-7 → C-(1, 8, 9, 31), H-8 → C-(6, 7, 10), H-10 → C-(6, 8, 9w, 12), H-11 → C-(9, 13, 17), H-13 → C-(11, 12, 14, 15, 17), H-14 → C-(12, 16), H-15 → C-(13, 14, 16, 17, 18w), H-18 → C-(15, 17, 20), H-19 → C-(16, 20, 21), H-22, 23 → C-(20, 21, 22, 23), H-26 → C-(24, 28), H-27 → C-(25, 29, 30), H-29 → C-(21, 25, 27, 30), H-31 → C-(1, 7, 32, 33), H-32 → C-(31, 33, 34), H-37, 45 → C-(36, 44, 38, 46), H-38, 46 → C-(36, 44, 37, 45), H-39 → C-(20, 25, 40, 41). DQF-COSY correlations: H-2 → H-(3), H-3 → H-(2, 4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-10 → H-(11), H-11 → H-(10), H-13 → H-(14), H-14 → H-(13, 15), H-15 → H-(14), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18), H-26 → H-(27), H-27 → H-(26), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-37, 45 → H-(38, 46), H-38, 46 → H-(37, 45), H-39 → H-(40), H-40 → H-(39, 41), H-41 → H-(40). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C46H60Cl2N2O6[M-ClO4]+: 707.4338. Found: 707.4336. Elemental analysis: calculated for C46H60Cl2N2O6: C, 68.39%; H, 7.49%; N, 3.47%; O, 11.88%; Cl, 8.78%. Found: C, 68.18%; H, 7.71%; N, 3.42%; O, 12.17%; Cl, 8.67%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2925, 2853, 1709, 1688, 1568, 1161, 1076, 771.


## 2.2.6. 2-(2-(3-(2-(5-Carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-octylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3-ethylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium Iodide (Hepta6)

Half dyeS15 (1.87 mmol, 1.00 g), 5-carboxy-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium iodideS8 (1.87 mmol, 0.83 g), and sodium acetate (4.1 mmol, 0.33 g) were suspended in ethanol (50 mL) and heated to reflux for 18 h. After the reaction, the suspension was cooled to room temperature. The precipitated starting materials were removed by filtration. The filtrate was reduced to half under reduced pressure and stored at −20°C for 14 h. Subsequently, the viscose suspension was dropped into hexane (50 mL) and stored at 4°C for 15 h until fine green shiny crystals precipitated. The crystals were isolated by filtration and recrystallized from ethanol (30 mL) to yield the dyeHepta6 (0.31 g, 22.5%). d.p. 255°C. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.65 (s, 1H, OH), 8.28 (dd,J= 8.1, 0.8, 1H, H-5), 8.21 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-9), 8.15 (d,J= 8.5, 1H, H-2), 7.92 (d,J= 1.6, 1H, H-27), 7.87 (dd,J= 8.3, 1.6, 1H, H-25), 7.81 (d,J= 13.2, 1H, H-16), 7.79 (m, 1H, H-3), 7.68 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.14 (d,J= 14.7, 1H, H-8), 7.13 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-24), 5.89 (d,J= 13.2, 1H, H-17), 4.81 (q,J= 7.2, 2H, H-29), 3.92 (m, 2H, H-31), 2.74 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-11), 2.66 (t,J= 5.9, 2H, H-13), 1.84 (m, 2H, H-12), 1.64 (m, 2H, H-32), 1.61 (s, 6H, H-20, 21), 1.40 (t,J= 7.2, 3H, H-30), 1.33 (m, 2H, H-33), 1.28 (m, 4H, H-34, 35), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-37), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-36), 0.83 (t,J= 7.0, 3H, H-38). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 169.5 (s, C-7), 167.1 (s, C-28), 163.6 (s, C-18), 147.2 (s, C-23), 144.2 (d, C-9), 143.8 (s, C-15), 141.2 (s, C-1), 139.3 (s, C-22), 134.0 (d, C-16), 130.7 (d, C-25), 129.2 (d, C-3), 127.9 (s, C-10), 127.6 (d, C-4), 127.5 (s, C-6), 125.5 (s, C-14), 124.1 (d, C-5), 123.8 (s, C-26), 123.0 (d, C-27), 115.8 (d, C-2), 109.2 (d, C-8), 108.2 (d, C-24), 96.7 (d, C-17), 46.3 (s, C-19), 43.5 (t, C-29), 42.3 (t, C-31), 31.2 (t, C-36), 28.6 (t, C-34, 35), 27.8 (q, C-20, 21), 26.7 (t, C-11), 26.1 (t, C-33), 26.1 (t, C-32), 25.7 (t, C-13), 22.0 (t, C-37), 20.5 (t, C-12), 14.0 (q, C-38), 13.8 (q, C-30). HMBC correlations: H-2 → C-(4, 6), H-3 → C-(1, 5), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-8 → C-(7, 9w, 10), H-9 → C-(7, 11, 15), H-11 → C-(9w, 10, 13, 15), H-12 → C-(10, 14), H-13 → C-(11, 14, 15, 16w), H-16 → C-(13, 18), H-17 → C-(14, 18w, 19), H-20, 21 → C-(18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), H-24 → C-(22, 26), H-25 → C-(23, 27, 28), H-27 → C-(19, 23, 25, 28), H-29 → C-(1, 7, 30), H-30 → C-(29), H-31 → C-(18, 23, 33), H-32 → C-(33, 34), H-33 → C-(32, 35), H-34, 35 → C-(36), H-37 → C-(35, 36), H-38 → C-(36, 37). DQF-COSY correlations: H-2 → H-(3), H-3 → H-(2, 4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4), H-8 → H-(9), H-9 → H-(8), H-11 → H-(12), H-12 → H-(11, 13), H-13 → H-(12), H-16 → H-(17), H-17 → H-(16), H-24 → H-(25), H-25 → H-(24, 27), H-27 → H-(25), H-29 → H-(30), H-30 → H-(29), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31, 33), H-33 → H-(32), H-37 → H-(38), H-38 → H-(37). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C38H46ClN2O2S [M-I]+: 629.2963. Found: 629.2957. Elemental analysis: calculated for C38H46ClIN2O2S: C, 60.28%; H, 6.12%; N, 3.70%; O, 4.23%; S, 4.23%; Cl, 4.68%; I, 16.76%. Found: C, 60.02%; H, 6.16%; N, 3.72%; O, 4.48%; S, 4.16%; Cl, 4.49%; I, 16.69%. IR (ATR, cm-1): λmax⁡ 2923, 2852, 1705, 1604, 1548, 1359, 1096, 1049, 927, 754.


## 2.2.7. 5-Carboxy-2-(2-(2-chloro-3-(2-(3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indol-2-ylidene)ethylidene)cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1-octyl-3H-indol-1-ium (Hepta7)

Half dyeS11 (2.55 mmol, 1.52 g) and anchor groupS8 (2.9 mmol, 1.29 g) were dissolved in ethanol (50 mL) and heated to reflux under argon for 96 h. Then, the mixture was slowly cooled down to −15°C and stored at this temperature overnight. Since no product crystallized the solution was warmed up to room temperature and the desired crude product was isolated by slow crystallization from ethanol/diethyl ether mixture. Further purification by recrystallization from ethanol yielded pure dyeHepta7 (1.3 g, 65%). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400.1 MHz): δ 12.78 (s (br), 1H, OH), 8.52 (d,J= 15.0, 1H, H-16), 8.38 (d,J= 8.3, 1H, H-3), 8.20 (d,J= 9, 1H, H-7), 8.14 (d,J= 8.4, 1H, H-6), 8.04 (d,J= 13.5, 1H, H-23), 8.01 (d,J= 1.4, 1H, H-34), 7.94 (d,J= 9, 1H, H-8), 7.93 (dd,J= 8.4, 1.4, 1H, H-32), 7.72 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.61 (m, 1H, H-5), 7.28 (d,J= 8.4, 1H, H-31), 6.70 (d,J= 15, 1H, H-15), 6.08 (d,J= 13.5, 1H, H-24), 4.56 (q,J= 7.2, 2H, H-36), 4.04 (m, 2H, H-38), 2.77 (m, 2H, H-18), 2.71 (m, 2H, H-20), 1.95 (s, 6H, H-13, 14), 1.87 (m, 2H, H-19), 1.68 (m, 2H, H-39), 1.65 (s, 6H, H-27, 28), 1.42 (t,J= 7.2, 3H, H-37), 1.35 (m, 2H, H-40), 1.28 (m, 4H, H-41, 42), 1.24 (m, 2H, H-44), 1.22 (m, 2H, H-43), 0.83 (t,J= 7.1, 3H, H-45). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100.6 MHz): δ 177.2 (s, C-12), 167.1 (s, C-35), 167.1 (s, C-25), 147.1 (s, C-22), 146.5 (s, C-30), 145.6 (d, C-16), 139.9 (s, C-29), 138.7 (s, C-9), 138.0 (d, C-23), 136.1 (s, C-10), 132.2 (s, C-1), 130.8 (d, C-7), 130.6 (d, C-32), 129.8 (d, C-6), 128.1 (d, C-4), 128.0 (s, C-17), 127.0 (s, C-2), 126.3 (s, C-21), 126.1 (d, C-5), 124.9 (s, C-33), 123.1 (d, C-34), 122.7 (d, C-3), 112.2 (d, C-8), 109.3 (d, C-31), 105.6 (d, C-15), 98.6 (d, C-24), 52.0 (s, C-11), 47.2 (s, C-26), 42.8 (t, C-38), 40.6 (t, C-36), 31.1 (t, C-43), 28.5 (t, C-41, 42), 27.6 (q, C-27, 28), 26.6 (q, C-13, 14), 26.3 (t, C-39), 26.0 (t, C-40), 25.9 (t, C-18), 25.7 (t, C-20), 22.0 (t, C-44), 20.3 (t, C-19), 13.9 (q, C-45), 13.0 (q, C-37). HMBC correlations: H-3 → C-(1, 5, 10), H-4 → C-(2, 6), H-5 → C-(1, 3), H-6 → C-(2, 4, 7), H-7 → C-(1w, 2, 6, 9), H-8 → C-(1, 10), H-13, 14 → C-(10, 11, 12, 13, 14), H-15 → C-(11, 17), H-16 → C-(12, 18w, 22), H-23 → C-(20w, 22, 25), H-24 → C-(21w, 26), H-27, 28 → C-(25, 26, 27, 28, 29), H-31 → C-(29, 33), H-32 → C-(30, 32w, 34, 35), H-34 → C-(30, 32, 35), H-37 → C-(36), H-45 → C-(43, 44). DQF-COSY correlations: H-3 → H-(4), H-4 → H-(3, 5), H-5 → H-(4, 6), H-6 → H-(5), H-7 → H-(8), H-8 → H-(7), H-15 → H-(16), H-16 → H-(15), H-18 → H-(19), H-19 → H-(18, 20), H-20 → H-(19), H-23 → H-(24), H-24 → H-(23), H-31 → H-(32), H-32 → H-(31), H-36 → H-(37), H-37 → H-(36), H-38 → H-(39), H-39 → H-(38, 40), H-40 → H-(39), H-44 → H-(45), H-45 → H-(44). HR-MS (ESI-QTOF): calculated for C45H54ClN2O2 [M-I]+: 689.3868. Found: 689.3854.


## 2.3. DSC Preparation

State-of-art cells were prepared with several titania photo anodes (0.36 cm2) printed on FTO glass (2.2 mm thick and 7 Ohm/sq). The layering used for high efficiency cells was as follows (see Supplementary Figure S2): around 12 μm of 18 nm TiO2 nanoparticles (Solaronix Ti-Nanoxide T/SP) and 3 μm of over 100 nm TiO2 nanoparticles (Solaronix Ti-Nanoxide R/SP). For testing purpose sometimes 4 μm thick layers of 18 nm TiO2 nanoparticles were used without addition of the scattering layer.TiCl4 pretreatment and posttreatment were performed to optimize titania’s adhesion, porosity, and specific area. The counter electrode was prepared by paint brushing three layers of Solaronix Platisol T, leading to the formation of a platinized catalytic layer after firing at 400°C. The photoanodes were then sensitized using the various dyes in different solvents with or without chenodeoxycholic acid as coadsorbent to limit dye aggregation. The working and counter electrodes were joined together using a 60 μm spacer (or 25 μm for 4 μm thick electrodes). The cells were then backfilled with an electrolyte based on acetonitrile containing 0.5 M of dimethyl propyl imidazolium iodide, 0.5 M of 4-t-butylpyridine, 0.1 M of lithium iodide, and 50 mM of iodine. For accurate measurement the cells were masked. The total active area was 0.36 cm2.


## 2.4. Large-Area DSC Preparation withHepta4

Thickness of the TiO2 layer was 14 μm with an additional scatter layer of 4 μm. For immersion, the optimal concentration was 0.5 mM forHepta4 and 10 mM for CDCA in methanol. The electrolyte was AN50 from Solaronix with a concentration of 50 mmol of I-/I3- in acetonitrile.


## 2.5. Characterization of the DSCs

The DSCs were characterized using a SolarSim 150 (Solaronix) previously calibrated. The measurements were carried out under one sun (1000 W/m2, AM-1.5G) on masked cells (active area 0.36 cm2).


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Synthetic Concept

Commonly, symmetrical heptamethine dyes have been synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation reaction between heterocyclic bases with an activated methyl group and an unsaturated bisaldehyde or the dianil derivative in the presence of catalyst, for example, anhydrous sodium acetate or trimethylamine. Commonly used solvents for the reactions are alcohols, acetic acids, acetic anhydride, or mixtures of them. By adapting this reaction condition and stepwise condensation reaction via a half dye intermediate, unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes are achievable. Remarkably, despite equimolar amounts of the starting materials, the use of a catalyst often causes symmetrical side products in the first step which entails elaborate purification by column chromatography. Here, the first Knoevenagel condensation reaction step was carried out at equimolar conditions in anhydrous ethanol under inert gas without catalyst at reflux temperature. The activity of the alkylated heterocyclesS1–S5 (see Supplementary Material) is sufficient enough to selectively react with the corresponding dianilsS6 andS7 to its half dyesS11–S16 while the second condensation reaction step to the symmetrical full dye is prevented. The half dyes precipitate in the reaction mixture directly or after chilling and can be further purified by recrystallization. The anchor moiety (the second heterocycleS8orS10) is condensed to the corresponding half dye via a second Knoevenagel reaction step under catalyzed condition (anhydrous sodium acetate) in anhydrous ethanol. The resulting unsymmetrical heptamethine dyesHepta1–Hepta7 also precipitate in the reaction solution and can be further purified via recrystallization. As an example, a detailed reaction scheme is given for the synthesis ofHepta4(Scheme 1).Scheme 1
Synthetic route ofHepta4.


### 3.2. Optical Properties

Optical data and UV-vis spectra in ethanol of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyesHepta1–Hepta7 and, for comparison, symmetrical heptamethine dyessymHepta1–symHepta3 are provided in Table 1 and Supplementary Material. In general, heptamethine dyes are characterized by their specific spectral properties exhibiting highly intense and narrow absorption bands. Seven methine units and large aromatic terminals lead to bathochromically shifted absorption in the NIR domain. The extraordinary optical properties furthermore require a uniform C—C bond length (no bond-length alternation), the maximum alternation of the positive and negative partial charge of the carbon atoms in the polymethine chain, and a high symmetry of the dye chromophore [20]. The symmetrical dyessymHepta1–symHepta3 with identical structural and chemical termination achieve the cyanine limit resulting in maximum bathochromy of λmax⁡ and highest values of ε. In the case ofHepta7, the electronic structure of the polymethine chain remains unaffected by the additional carboxylic acid function. Thus, the dye exhibits the same optical properties as its corresponding symmetrical dye. The unsymmetrical combination of heterocycles with different basicity inHepta1,Hepta2,Hepta3,Hepta4, andHepta6 causes a symmetry break resulting in a slight hypsochromic shift of the λmax⁡ value, a noticeable decrease of the extinction coefficient ε at λmax⁡, and additional weak absorption at around 400 nm. In principal,Hepta5 has to be classified as nonamethine dye because of additional methine units between the nitrogen atoms inducing a distinct hypsochromic shift of λmax⁡ of almost 100 nm and the lowest ε value at λmax⁡ of all unsymmetrical dyes. For almost all dyes, the value of the oscillator strength f is greater than unity because more than one electron is involved in the optical transition and the electronic system is somehow degenerated.Table 1
Optical properties of the unsymmetrical and symmetrical heptamethine dyes in ethanol.
Dyea
λ
max
⁡ (nm)b
ε
(
λ
max
⁡
) (Lcm−1mol−1)c
f
d
λ
onset
abs (nm)e
E
g
opt (eV)f
Hepta1
790
133000
1.8
882
1.41
Hepta2
795
100000
1.5
888
1.40
Hepta3
754
94600
1.7
866
1.43
Hepta4
758
82500
1.4
852
1.46
Hepta5
702
51700
0.9
896
1.38
Hepta6
788
108000
1.5
830
1.49
Hepta7
810
240000
1.3
847
1.46
symHepta1
850
262000
1.9
894
1.39
symHepta2
797
357000
2.0
830
1.49
symHepta3
799
227000
1.3
835
1.48
aChemical structures of the symmetrical heptamethine dyes are given in the Supplementary Material. bAbsorption maximum, UV-vis spectra of all dyes are represented in the Supplementary Material. cMolar absorption coefficient determined from the absorbance for a molar concentration (c≈2×10-6 molL−1) of the dyes with a path length of 1 cm at λmax⁡. dOscillator strength, f=4.31×10-9∫ε(υ~)dυ~. eOnset absorption edge at higher wavelengths. fOptical band gap, Egopt = hc/λonsetabs.


### 3.3. Electrochemical Properties

Cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed for all unsymmetrical dyes in DMF solution. The results are presented in Table2 and the voltammograms are shown in the Supplementary Material. For most dyes, broad and irreversible oxidation and reduction waves were observed within the potential range of DMF. According to the literature [21], all unsymmetrical dyes undergo an irreversible oxidation and their radical dications couple to form stable dimers. Therefore, the first reduction and oxidation potential (Ered,Eox) were roughly estimated from the corresponding anodic or cathodic peak potentials. Remarkably, symmetrical dyes exhibit reversible oxidation and reduction processes (e.g., see voltammogram ofsymHepta2 in Supplementary Material). With regard to application in DSC, efficient electron injection from the reduction level of the dye into the conduction band of the semiconductor is mandatory. But, the reduction potential of all dyes is more positive than the conduction band edge of the semiconductor TiO2 (−0.5 V). Charge injection may still be possible from the excited state of the dye, since the latter generally provides more driving force for the electron transfer step (Table 2, Eox-Egopt). Efficient regeneration of the dye after excitation is guaranteed by the sufficiently large difference between the potential of the redox couple I-/I3- (0.4 V) and the oxidation potential of the dyes.Table 2
Electrochemical properties of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes in dilute DMF solutiona.
Dye
E
ox (V versus NHE)b
E
red (V versus NHE)c
E
g
el (V)d
E
ox
-
E
g
opt (V)
Hepta1
0.75
−0.42
1.16
−0.65
Hepta2
0.75
−0.47
1.21
−0.63
Hepta3
0.56
−0.35
0.91
−0.85
Hepta4
0.77
−0.46
1.23
−0.65
Hepta5
0.75
−0.37
1.12
−0.70
Hepta6
0.59
−0.29
0.88
−0.88
Hepta7
0.90
−0.21
1.11
−0.55
aAll potentials are referenced to NHE by adopting a potential of +0.72 V versus NHE for Fc/Fc+ in DMF [19]. bEox=|Epa,ox-Epc,ox|/2 with the cathodic and anodic peak potentials Epa and Epc from the oxidation wave. cEred=|Epa,red-Epc,red|/2 with the cathodic and anodic peak potentials Epa and Epc from the reduction wave. dEgel = Eox-Ered.


### 3.4. Molecular Modelling

The molecular structure and electron density distribution provide detailed information about possible vectorial electron transfer from the light-harvesting dye toward the semiconductor surface. Therefore, density functional calculations were performed in silico at B3LYP/6-31G* level with NWChem [22]. The frontier orbitals of the fully optimized dyes are shown in the Supplementary Material. Typically, a donor-π bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) dye structure favors the intramolecular charge transfer after excitation from subunit D through the π-bridge to A and the anchor functionality into the semiconductor. Remarkably, none of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes correspond to this D-π-A structure, and their electron density distribution of the LUMO level is mainly localized within the dye core. Thus, it is assumed that the electron injection after excitation occurs preferentially over the π electron system of the dye core instead of through the carboxylic acid anchor.


### 3.5. NIR Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

For a proof of principle, all unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes were validated in standard DSC configurations with TiO2 as semiconductor and I-/I3- as redox couple. In order to prevent the dye from aggregation on the semiconductor surface, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was used as coadsorbent. Due to previous adsorption experiments with different solvent combinations, CDCA concentrations, immersing temperatures, and times, optimal parameters for the dye immobilization were evaluated. Surprisingly, only DSCs withHepta4 as sensitizer exhibit a noteworthy overall conversion efficiency (η) of 1.22% with a short circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 3.22 mA cm-2, an open circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.48 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.78 (active area 0.36 cm2). The I-V curve of this DSC is shown in Figure 2. Similar efficiency values for DSC with symmetrical heptamethines are reported in the literature [6–11].Figure 2
I-V curve of a DSC withHepta4 as sensitizer.All other unsymmetrical dyes fail under applied conditions in the DSC exhibiting very low or negligibleJSC values. Actually, it is not obvious that onlyHepta4 is suitable for an application in DSC.Although data from electrochemical measurements and calculated electron density distributions of the LUMO level strongly indicate unfavourable injection conditions, electrons are nevertheless injected efficiently upon excitation fromHepta4 into the semiconductor conduction band. This underlines the above mentioned interaction of the π electrons in the LUMO level with the semiconductor surface as probable electron transfer route.A nonoptimized large-area cell (90 cm2, η<1%) withHepta4 as sensitizer was prepared in order to prove the NIR absorption concept. Figure 3 presents the UV-vis absorption spectrum ofHepta4 as well as the electrolyte in solution and the transmission spectrum of the complete solar cell. Figure 4 provides a photograph of this DSC. The color of the solar cell is pale green and the cell itself is highly transparent. Because of the NIR absorption property ofHepta4, a transmittance of 40–55% in the visible range of 400–700 nm is achievable. The reduction of the transmittance occurs because of the absorption band of the electrolyte at 300–500 nm and the extensive tailing of the absorption band of the dye down to 500 nm. Here, an improvement could be achieved by the application of a colorless electrolyte system (λ<350 nm) and a dye with λmax⁡>900 nm. Nevertheless, the high potential of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes for transparent and colorless DSC could be outlined.Figure 3
Transmission of large-area DSC with NIR dye.Figure 4
Photograph of a working large-area DSC withHepta4.


## 3.1. Synthetic Concept

Commonly, symmetrical heptamethine dyes have been synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation reaction between heterocyclic bases with an activated methyl group and an unsaturated bisaldehyde or the dianil derivative in the presence of catalyst, for example, anhydrous sodium acetate or trimethylamine. Commonly used solvents for the reactions are alcohols, acetic acids, acetic anhydride, or mixtures of them. By adapting this reaction condition and stepwise condensation reaction via a half dye intermediate, unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes are achievable. Remarkably, despite equimolar amounts of the starting materials, the use of a catalyst often causes symmetrical side products in the first step which entails elaborate purification by column chromatography. Here, the first Knoevenagel condensation reaction step was carried out at equimolar conditions in anhydrous ethanol under inert gas without catalyst at reflux temperature. The activity of the alkylated heterocyclesS1–S5 (see Supplementary Material) is sufficient enough to selectively react with the corresponding dianilsS6 andS7 to its half dyesS11–S16 while the second condensation reaction step to the symmetrical full dye is prevented. The half dyes precipitate in the reaction mixture directly or after chilling and can be further purified by recrystallization. The anchor moiety (the second heterocycleS8orS10) is condensed to the corresponding half dye via a second Knoevenagel reaction step under catalyzed condition (anhydrous sodium acetate) in anhydrous ethanol. The resulting unsymmetrical heptamethine dyesHepta1–Hepta7 also precipitate in the reaction solution and can be further purified via recrystallization. As an example, a detailed reaction scheme is given for the synthesis ofHepta4(Scheme 1).Scheme 1
Synthetic route ofHepta4.


## 3.2. Optical Properties

Optical data and UV-vis spectra in ethanol of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyesHepta1–Hepta7 and, for comparison, symmetrical heptamethine dyessymHepta1–symHepta3 are provided in Table 1 and Supplementary Material. In general, heptamethine dyes are characterized by their specific spectral properties exhibiting highly intense and narrow absorption bands. Seven methine units and large aromatic terminals lead to bathochromically shifted absorption in the NIR domain. The extraordinary optical properties furthermore require a uniform C—C bond length (no bond-length alternation), the maximum alternation of the positive and negative partial charge of the carbon atoms in the polymethine chain, and a high symmetry of the dye chromophore [20]. The symmetrical dyessymHepta1–symHepta3 with identical structural and chemical termination achieve the cyanine limit resulting in maximum bathochromy of λmax⁡ and highest values of ε. In the case ofHepta7, the electronic structure of the polymethine chain remains unaffected by the additional carboxylic acid function. Thus, the dye exhibits the same optical properties as its corresponding symmetrical dye. The unsymmetrical combination of heterocycles with different basicity inHepta1,Hepta2,Hepta3,Hepta4, andHepta6 causes a symmetry break resulting in a slight hypsochromic shift of the λmax⁡ value, a noticeable decrease of the extinction coefficient ε at λmax⁡, and additional weak absorption at around 400 nm. In principal,Hepta5 has to be classified as nonamethine dye because of additional methine units between the nitrogen atoms inducing a distinct hypsochromic shift of λmax⁡ of almost 100 nm and the lowest ε value at λmax⁡ of all unsymmetrical dyes. For almost all dyes, the value of the oscillator strength f is greater than unity because more than one electron is involved in the optical transition and the electronic system is somehow degenerated.Table 1
Optical properties of the unsymmetrical and symmetrical heptamethine dyes in ethanol.
Dyea
λ
max
⁡ (nm)b
ε
(
λ
max
⁡
) (Lcm−1mol−1)c
f
d
λ
onset
abs (nm)e
E
g
opt (eV)f
Hepta1
790
133000
1.8
882
1.41
Hepta2
795
100000
1.5
888
1.40
Hepta3
754
94600
1.7
866
1.43
Hepta4
758
82500
1.4
852
1.46
Hepta5
702
51700
0.9
896
1.38
Hepta6
788
108000
1.5
830
1.49
Hepta7
810
240000
1.3
847
1.46
symHepta1
850
262000
1.9
894
1.39
symHepta2
797
357000
2.0
830
1.49
symHepta3
799
227000
1.3
835
1.48
aChemical structures of the symmetrical heptamethine dyes are given in the Supplementary Material. bAbsorption maximum, UV-vis spectra of all dyes are represented in the Supplementary Material. cMolar absorption coefficient determined from the absorbance for a molar concentration (c≈2×10-6 molL−1) of the dyes with a path length of 1 cm at λmax⁡. dOscillator strength, f=4.31×10-9∫ε(υ~)dυ~. eOnset absorption edge at higher wavelengths. fOptical band gap, Egopt = hc/λonsetabs.


## 3.3. Electrochemical Properties

Cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed for all unsymmetrical dyes in DMF solution. The results are presented in Table2 and the voltammograms are shown in the Supplementary Material. For most dyes, broad and irreversible oxidation and reduction waves were observed within the potential range of DMF. According to the literature [21], all unsymmetrical dyes undergo an irreversible oxidation and their radical dications couple to form stable dimers. Therefore, the first reduction and oxidation potential (Ered,Eox) were roughly estimated from the corresponding anodic or cathodic peak potentials. Remarkably, symmetrical dyes exhibit reversible oxidation and reduction processes (e.g., see voltammogram ofsymHepta2 in Supplementary Material). With regard to application in DSC, efficient electron injection from the reduction level of the dye into the conduction band of the semiconductor is mandatory. But, the reduction potential of all dyes is more positive than the conduction band edge of the semiconductor TiO2 (−0.5 V). Charge injection may still be possible from the excited state of the dye, since the latter generally provides more driving force for the electron transfer step (Table 2, Eox-Egopt). Efficient regeneration of the dye after excitation is guaranteed by the sufficiently large difference between the potential of the redox couple I-/I3- (0.4 V) and the oxidation potential of the dyes.Table 2
Electrochemical properties of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes in dilute DMF solutiona.
Dye
E
ox (V versus NHE)b
E
red (V versus NHE)c
E
g
el (V)d
E
ox
-
E
g
opt (V)
Hepta1
0.75
−0.42
1.16
−0.65
Hepta2
0.75
−0.47
1.21
−0.63
Hepta3
0.56
−0.35
0.91
−0.85
Hepta4
0.77
−0.46
1.23
−0.65
Hepta5
0.75
−0.37
1.12
−0.70
Hepta6
0.59
−0.29
0.88
−0.88
Hepta7
0.90
−0.21
1.11
−0.55
aAll potentials are referenced to NHE by adopting a potential of +0.72 V versus NHE for Fc/Fc+ in DMF [19]. bEox=|Epa,ox-Epc,ox|/2 with the cathodic and anodic peak potentials Epa and Epc from the oxidation wave. cEred=|Epa,red-Epc,red|/2 with the cathodic and anodic peak potentials Epa and Epc from the reduction wave. dEgel = Eox-Ered.


## 3.4. Molecular Modelling

The molecular structure and electron density distribution provide detailed information about possible vectorial electron transfer from the light-harvesting dye toward the semiconductor surface. Therefore, density functional calculations were performed in silico at B3LYP/6-31G* level with NWChem [22]. The frontier orbitals of the fully optimized dyes are shown in the Supplementary Material. Typically, a donor-π bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) dye structure favors the intramolecular charge transfer after excitation from subunit D through the π-bridge to A and the anchor functionality into the semiconductor. Remarkably, none of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes correspond to this D-π-A structure, and their electron density distribution of the LUMO level is mainly localized within the dye core. Thus, it is assumed that the electron injection after excitation occurs preferentially over the π electron system of the dye core instead of through the carboxylic acid anchor.


## 3.5. NIR Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

For a proof of principle, all unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes were validated in standard DSC configurations with TiO2 as semiconductor and I-/I3- as redox couple. In order to prevent the dye from aggregation on the semiconductor surface, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was used as coadsorbent. Due to previous adsorption experiments with different solvent combinations, CDCA concentrations, immersing temperatures, and times, optimal parameters for the dye immobilization were evaluated. Surprisingly, only DSCs withHepta4 as sensitizer exhibit a noteworthy overall conversion efficiency (η) of 1.22% with a short circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 3.22 mA cm-2, an open circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.48 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.78 (active area 0.36 cm2). The I-V curve of this DSC is shown in Figure 2. Similar efficiency values for DSC with symmetrical heptamethines are reported in the literature [6–11].Figure 2
I-V curve of a DSC withHepta4 as sensitizer.All other unsymmetrical dyes fail under applied conditions in the DSC exhibiting very low or negligibleJSC values. Actually, it is not obvious that onlyHepta4 is suitable for an application in DSC.Although data from electrochemical measurements and calculated electron density distributions of the LUMO level strongly indicate unfavourable injection conditions, electrons are nevertheless injected efficiently upon excitation fromHepta4 into the semiconductor conduction band. This underlines the above mentioned interaction of the π electrons in the LUMO level with the semiconductor surface as probable electron transfer route.A nonoptimized large-area cell (90 cm2, η<1%) withHepta4 as sensitizer was prepared in order to prove the NIR absorption concept. Figure 3 presents the UV-vis absorption spectrum ofHepta4 as well as the electrolyte in solution and the transmission spectrum of the complete solar cell. Figure 4 provides a photograph of this DSC. The color of the solar cell is pale green and the cell itself is highly transparent. Because of the NIR absorption property ofHepta4, a transmittance of 40–55% in the visible range of 400–700 nm is achievable. The reduction of the transmittance occurs because of the absorption band of the electrolyte at 300–500 nm and the extensive tailing of the absorption band of the dye down to 500 nm. Here, an improvement could be achieved by the application of a colorless electrolyte system (λ<350 nm) and a dye with λmax⁡>900 nm. Nevertheless, the high potential of the unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes for transparent and colorless DSC could be outlined.Figure 3
Transmission of large-area DSC with NIR dye.Figure 4
Photograph of a working large-area DSC withHepta4.


## 4. Conclusions

In summary, we have synthesized and characterized seven different unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes equipped with one carboxylic acid anchor group. The use of chemically different heterocycles terminating the polymethine core causes a symmetry break with the strongest influence on the optical properties. Although the redox level of the dyes and the calculated electron density contribution let us suspect limited usability of the dyes,Hepta4 exhibits a notable overall conversion efficiency of 1.22% in a DSC with TiO2 as semiconductor. The synthesis of dyes with λmax⁡>900 nm and different counter ions and the preparation of solar cells with different semiconductors (e.g., SnO2) and electrolytes as well as lifetime tests are still ongoing work.Supplementary Material available: synthetic procedures and characterization of precursors and half dyes, UV-vis spectra, voltammograms, frontier orbitals of the unsymmetrical heptamethines, and a SEM cross section image of a DSC are provided.



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*Source: 258984-2014-06-04.xml*