Cross-coupling reactions: Some applications to the synthesis of thiazolothiazole- and benzobisthiazole-based dyes for new generation solar cells (DSSC)

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received considerable attention in the last decade because of their good efficiency coupled with low cost of production. To increase the performances of such devices it is important to develop effective organic photosensitizers with optimal chemical structures and, to this end, compouds featuring D-?-A architectures have been found very promising. Many classes of D-?-A dyes have been developed so far and cross-coupling reactions have emerged as an unique tool for designing flexible synthetic strategies. The aim of this microreview is to highlight the application of cross-coupling reactions in the preparation of such dyes, which is exemplified by the synthesis of a new class of thiazolothiazole- and benzobisthiazole-based dyes. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.