The most appealing oxidant, molecular oxygen, is employed for the first time as the sole oxidant in the transition metal-catalyzed oxidative direct arylation polymerization (C-H/C-H-type DArP), which eliminates by-product formation of stoichiometric metal salts except for water . Compared to conventional approaches, other than the avoidance of an end-capping procedure, the current protocol is remarkably advanced in the aspect of eco-friendliness, step- and cost-economy, and, of special significance, the purity of polymer products. As illustrative examples, six 5,5'-bithiazole-based polymers are synthesized using this new method, demonstrating higher number-average molecular weight (Mn up to 33 700) in better yields (up to 93 %) through only one step. The evolution of C-H/C-H-type DArP from heavy metal salts to O2 alone as the oxidant could solve the problem of metal residues in polymers, which is considered harmful to the performance of devices.
Read full abstract