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Synthesis of a Donor–Acceptor Diblock Copolymer via Two Mechanistically Distinct, Sequential Polymerizations Using a Single Catalyst
Author(s) -
Ono Robert J.,
Todd Alexander D.,
Hu Zhongjian,
Vanden Bout David A.,
Bielawski Christopher W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201300440
Subject(s) - perylene , copolymer , materials science , monomer , acceptor , polymer chemistry , diimide , lamellar structure , catalysis , polymerization , quenching (fluorescence) , isocyanide , photochemistry , polymer , fluorescence , chemistry , molecule , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , composite material , condensed matter physics
Treatment of a Ni‐terminated poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), generated in situ from 5‐chloromagnesio‐2‐bromo‐3‐hexylthiophene and Ni(1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)Cl 2 , with a perylene diimide‐functionalized arylisocyanide monomer effects a chain‐extension polymerization to afford a donor–acceptor diblock copolymer using a single catalyst and in a single reaction vessel. The two mechanistically distinct polymerizations proceed in a controlled, chain growth fashion, allowing the molecular weight of both the P3HT and poly(isocyanide) blocks to be tuned by adjusting the initial monomer‐to‐catalyst ratios. The resulting materials are found to self‐assemble into crystalline, lamellar stacks of donor and acceptor components in the solid state, and also exhibit fluorescence quenching in thin films, properties which poise these materials for use in organic photovoltaic applications.