Chain-growth polymerization of unusual anion-radical monomers based on naphthalene diimide: a new route to well-defined n-type conjugated copolymers.
Strongly electron-deficient (n-type) main-chain π-conjugated polymers are commonly prepared via well-established step-growth polycondensation protocols which enable limited control over polymerization. Here we demonstrate that activated Zn and electron-deficient brominated thiophene-naphthalene diimide oligomers form anion-radical complexes instead of conventional Zn-organic derivatives. These highly unusual zinc complexes undergo Ni-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization leading to n-type conjugated polymers with controlled molecular weight, relatively narrow polydispersities, and specific end-functions.
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany. senkovskyy@ipfdd.de
Volodymyr
V
Senkovskyy
Roman
R
Tkachov
Hartmut
H
Komber
Michael
M
Sommer
Maria
M
Heuken
Brigitte
B
Voit
Wilhelm T S
WT
Huck
Vladislav
V
Kataev
Andreas
A
Petr
Anton
A
Kiriy