Synthesis of a conjugated polymer with ring-fused pyridinium units via a postpolymerization intramolecular cyclization reaction

Abstract

The synthesis of a novel conjugated polymer containing fused pyridinium units in its main chain is reported. A precursor polymer possessing pyridine and tetrafluorophenylene moieties was reacted in the presence of Lewis acid additives to promote the intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction. The polymer reaction with BE3-OEt2 gave a product polymer soluble in polar organic solvents, and the successful formation of fused pyridinium ring structures was spectroscopically confirmed. The electrochemical and optical properties of the synthesized polymers were also investigated, suggesting that the polymer product has a narrower band gap than the precursor polymer. The synthesis of a novel conjugated polymer containing fused pyridinium units in its main chain is reported. A precursor polymer possessing pyridine and tetrafluorophenylene moieties was reacted in the presence of Lewis acid additives to promote the intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction. The polymer reaction with BE3-OEt2 gave a product polymer soluble in polar organic solvents, and the successful formation of fused pyridinium ring structures was spectroscopically confirmed. The electrochemical and optical properties of the synthesized polymers were also investigated.