Highly functionalisable polythiophene phenylenes

The synthesis and properties of novel conducting polymer monomers, and their polymers, based on poly(thiophene phenylenes) (PThP) is described. These polymers contain a range of functional groups useful for further polymer modification and design and can be obtained using both electropolymerisation and chemical oxidative polymerisation. Further modification of a chemically polymerised PThP was validated using ‘click’ chemistry from azide containing side chains and also by grafting of polystyrene by Activator ReGenerated by Electron Transfer Atom Transfer Radical polymerisation (ARGET-ATRP) from ATRP initiating sites on the polymer. The complimentary and orthogonal nature of ‘click’ chemistry and ATRP grafting was established. The polymers were characterised by ¹H NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical analysis showed that the functionalised polymers retain excellent electroactivity.