Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers via Polymer Elimination Reactions

摘要

The transformation of nonconjugated polymers into conjugated polymers using elimination reactions is described. Heterocyclic conjugated polymers containing alternating aromatic and quinonoid sections in the main chain are synthesized by chemical or electrochemical redox elimination reaction on soluble precursor polymers containing sp3 carbon atom bridges between the aromatic heterocyclic units. Progress of the redox elimination process is followed by infrared and electronic spectra as well as by cyclic voltammetry. A reaction mechanism in which the precursor polymer undergoes a redox reaction followed by loss of the bridge hydrogens is proposed. The resulting conjugated aromatic/quinonoid polymers generally have very small semiconductor band gaps in accord with predictions of recent theoretical calculations. A brief view of related syntheses of conjugated polymers from nonconjugated precursor polymers is also given.