Synthesis and Properties of Novel Germole-Containing Polymers by Reaction of Bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentadiene-Containing Polymer with Germanium Tetrachloride

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of air-stable π-conjugated polymers containing both thiophene-2,5-diyl and fused titanacycle units

π-Conjugated poly(arylene ethynylene)s containing both thiophene-2,5-diyl and fused metallacycles units in their alternating sequence were synthesized and their optoelectronic features were studied by the UV-vis spectra.

Te-Li Exchange Reaction of Tellurophene-Containing π-Conjugated Polymer as Potential Synthetic Tool for Functional π-Conjugated Polymers

On the basis of the facts that tellurophene-containing π-conjugated polymers are obtainable from organotitanium polymers and that the tellurium atoms in the tellurophene derivatives can be transformed into lithium atoms, the synthesis of reactive lithiated polymer precursor and its transformations into some functionalized π-conjugated polymers are described. A regioregular organometallic polymer having 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadiene and 9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl units is generated by the reaction of a tellurophene-containing polymer having the number-average molecular weight (M_n ) and molecular weight distribution (M_w /M_n ) of 5890 and 1.9, respectively, with n-butyllithium (2.4 equiv.) at -78 °C to -60 °C for 3 h. The lithiated polymer thus prepared is subjected to reactions with electrophiles to produce functionalized π-conjugated polymers. For example, a π-conjugated polymer possessing 1,4-bis(tri-n-butylstannyl)-1,3-butadiene-1,4-diyl unit is obtained in 67% yield by the reaction with tri-n-butyltin chloride (2.4 equiv.) at -60 °C to ambient temperature for 12 h in tetrahydrofuran, whose M_n and M_w /M_n are estimated as 7320 and 2.5, respectively, by size exclusion chromatography. The absorption maximum and onset of the obtained polymer are observed at 380 and 465 nm, respectively, in the UV-vis spectrum, from which the optical band gap of the polymer is estimated as 2.67 eV.

Synthesis of Stannole-Containing π-Conjugated Polymers by Post-Element Transformation of Organotitanium Polymer

The synthesis of stannole-2,5-diyl-containing π-conjugated polymers by the post-element transformation of a regioregular organotitanium polymer is described. For example, a 1,1-diphenylstannole-containing polymer is obtained in 83% yield by the reaction of a regioregular organotitanium polymer, which is prepared from 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)-2,5-diethynylbenzene and a low-valent titanium complex with diphenyltin dichloride at -50 °C to ambient temperature. The number-average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution (M_n and M_w /M_n ) of the stannole-containing polymer are estimated as 4800 and 1.8, respectively. The obtained polymer is found to have the extended π-conjugated backbone and relatively low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level (-3.12 eV), which is supported by its UV-vis absorption spectrum and cyclic voltammetric (CV) analysis. In addition, the stannole-containing polymer is found to be applicable to a chemosensor for fluoride anion where the color and photoluminescence intensity of the polymer solution exhibits a distinct change in the presence of a fluoride anion.

Synthesis and characterization of metallo-supramolecular polymers

The incorporation of metal centers into the backbone of polymers has led to the development of a broad range of organometallic and coordination compounds featuring properties that are relevant for potential applications in diverse areas of research, ranging from energy storage/conversion to bioactive or self-healing materials. In this review, the basic concepts and synthetic strategies leading to these types of materials as well as the scope of available characterization techniques will be summarized and discussed.

Polymers and the p-block elements

A survey of the state-of-the-art in the development of synthetic methods to incorporate p-block elements into polymers is given. The incorporation of main group elements (groups 13-16) into long chains provides access to materials with fascinating chemical and physical properties imparted by the presence of inorganic groups. Perhaps the greatest impedance to the widespread academic and commercial use of p-block element-containing macromolecules is the synthetic challenge associated with linking inorganic elements into long chains. In recent years, creative methodologies have been developed to incorporate heteroatoms into polymeric structures, with perhaps the greatest advances occurring with hybrid organic-inorganic polymers composed of boron, silicon, phosphorus and sulfur. With these developments, materials are currently being realized that possess exciting chemical, photophysical and thermal properties that are not possible for conventional organic polymers. This review focuses on highlighting the most significant recent advances whilst giving an appropriate background for the general reader. Of particular focus will be advances made over the last two decades, with emphasis on the novel synthetic methodologies employed.

Synthesis of π-Conjugated Polymers Containing Phosphole Units in the Main Chain by Reaction of an Organometallic Polymer Having a Titanacyclopentadiene Unit

A regioregular organometallic polymer possessing titanacyclopentadiene units in the main chain, which was obtained by the reaction of terminal diyne and a low-valent titanium complex, was subjected to the reaction with dichlorophosphines to give π-conjugated polymers with phosphole or phosphole oxide units in the main chain. For example, a phenylphosphole-containing polymer was obtained in 76% yield by the reaction with dichlorophenylphosphine, whose number-average molecular weight (M_n) and molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) were estimated to be 6100 and 1.9, respectively, by GPC. The polymer was found to have an extended π-conjugated system, and its lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level was remarkably low (-3.28 eV) as supported by its UV-vis absorption spectrum and cyclic voltammetric (CV) analysis. Also, the polymer exhibits orange photoluminescence with an emission maximum (E_max) of 595 nm and a quantum yield (Φ) of 0.10.

Highly tin-selective stille coupling: synthesis of a polymer containing a stannole in the main chain

The incorporation of heavier Group 14 element heteroles into semiconducting polymers leads to unusual optoelectronic properties. However, polymers containing stannoles have not been accessible to date. We report a synthetic route to a well-defined, stannole-containing polymer, the first example of this class of π-conjugated polymers. This route was made possible by developing difunctionalized stannole monomers and highly tin-selective Stille coupling reactions that leave the tin in the stannole untouched. Compared to poly(3-n-hexylthiophene), the resulting polymer displays a remarkable bathochromic shift in its absorption.

Metal‐Containing Polymers

The article provides an overview of the synthesis, properties, and applications of metal‐containing polymers. The past decade has shown an exponential increase in synthetic methods, resulting in metal‐containing polymers, their characterization techniques, and their potential application into a variety of fields, including chemistry, medicine, biotechnology, and more.