Poly(isothianaphthene) from 2,5-bis(trialkylsilyl)isothianaphthenes: preparation and spectroscopic characterization

Abstract

A new method for the preparation of poly(isothianaphthene) is proposed, namely electropolymerisation of bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)isothianaphthene (BTBDMS)ITN. The advantage offered by this method is based on the fact that (BTBDMS)ITN is a stable monomer at ambient conditions whereas unsubstituted isothianaphthene is unstable and must be prepared prior to the polymerisation. Poly(isothianaphthene) (PITN) prepared from (BTBDMS)ITN shows an average polymerisation degree of 20 and spectral and spectroelectrochemical characteristics similar to classical PITN. FT Raman spectroelectrochemical studies show that during oxidative doping PITN undergoes similar changes to poly(alkylthiophenes) and poly(alkoxythiophenes).