Thiophene polymerization

Fig. 7.8 Cyclic voltammograms of thiophene polymerization (0.2 M, 50mVs-1) onto a Pt working electrode (a) growth and (b) post-growth in [C2mim][NTf2], (c) growth and (d) post-growth in [C4impyr][NTf2], vs. a Ag pseudo-reference electrode. Arrows indicate the peak development with successive scans [27].

Poly[(i )-2-bromo-5-(tributylstannyl)-3-l4-(4-ethyl-2-oxazolin-2-yl)-phenyl]thiophene [Polymerization of (i )-2-bromo-5-(tributylstannyl)-3-[4-(4-ethyl-2-oxazolin-2-yl)phenyl]thiophene (EOPT-Br,Sn) with Pd2(dba)3 as a catalyst, the CuO-modified Stille-McCullough method] [74]. 

Since pyrrole and thiophene polymerization occurs at a positions, functionalization has been carried out generally at /3 sites. A-functionalization is a further possibility for pyrrole. In any case, both the A-substitution in pyrrole and the ]3-substitution, either in pyrrole or in thiophene, correspond to the introduction of a functionality at an ortho position with regard to the site of polymerization. 

The electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of polymerized thiophene are improved when the synthesis is carried out at a low temperature (5 °C) [659]. The current eflSciency of thiophene polymerization and the charge storage efficiency increase when the temperature of polymerization decreases from 60°C to — 12°C [660]. For PTs prepared at low temperatures ( — 20°C to + 10 °C), the d.c. conductivity in the planar direction is almost independent of the frequency [329]. The values of the electrical conductivity of PATs (n = 6, 8,12) increase with decreasing polymerization temperature, but the electrical conductivity of a PAT with n = 18 decreases at a polymerization temperature of 5 °C [481]. A polymerization at — 20 °C is described for poly-(3-alkyloxymethylthiophene) [661]. The polymerization of terthiophene on Ni working electrodes at room temperature gives a more homogeneous, more compact, and smoother surface than at — 5 °C [148]. 

Polythiophene can be synthesized by electrochemical polymerization or chemical oxidation of the monomer. A large number of substituted polythiophenes have been prepared, with the properties of the polymer depending on the nature of the substituent group. Oligomers of polythiophene such as (a-sexithienyl thiophene) can be prepared by oxidative linking of smaller thiophene units (33). These oligomers can be sublimed in vacuum to create polymer thin films for use in organic-based transistors. 

Polyheterocycles. Heterocychc monomers such as pyrrole and thiophene form hiUy conjugated polymers (4) with the potential for doped conductivity when polymerization occurs in the 2, 5 positions as shown in equation 6. The heterocycle monomers can be polymerized by an oxidative coupling mechanism, which can be initiated by either chemical or electrochemical means. Similar methods have been used to synthesize poly(p-phenylenes). 

The synthesis involves the nickel-catalyzed coupling of the mono-Grignard reagent derived from 3-alkyl-2,5-diiodothiophene (82,83). Also in that year, transition-metal hahdes, ie, FeCl, MoCl, and RuCl, were used for the chemical oxidative polymerization of 3-substituted thiophenes (84). Substantial decreases in conductivity were noted when branched side chains were present in the polymer stmcture (85). 

Alkylation of furan and thiophene has been effected with alkenes and catalysts such as phosphoric acid and boron trifluoride. In general, Friedel-Crafts alkylation of furans or thiophenes is not preparatively useful, partly because of polymerization by the catalyst and partly because of polyalkylation. 

Benzo[Z)]furans and indoles do not take part in Diels-Alder reactions but 2-vinyl-benzo[Z)]furan and 2- and 3-vinylindoles give adducts involving the exocyclic double bond. In contrast, the benzo[c]-fused heterocycles function as highly reactive dienes in [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. Thus benzo[c]furan, isoindole (benzo[c]pyrrole) and benzo[c]thiophene all yield Diels-Alder adducts (137) with maleic anhydride. Adducts of this type are used to characterize these unstable molecules and in a similar way benzo[c]selenophene, which polymerizes on attempted isolation, was characterized by formation of an adduct with tetracyanoethylene (76JA867). 

Thiophene, bromotetrahydromethyl-pyrolysis, 3, 902 Thiophene, 5-t-butyl-2-methyl-dealkylation, 4, 800 Thiophene, chloro-polymerization, 4, 758 reaction with n-butyllithium, 4, 831 synthesis, 4, 835, 882, 933 Thiophene, 2-chloromercurio-reactions... 

Through a study of the influence of thiophene and other aromatic compounds on the retardation and chain transfer on the polymerization of styrene by stannic chloride, the relative rates of attack of a carbonium-ion pair could be obtained. It was found that thiophene in this reaction was about 100 times more reactive than p-xylene and somewhat less reactive than anisole. ... 

Tile preparation of beiizo-l,2-dithiete (264) had been claimed by oxidation of 1,2-benzenedithiol (25JIC318). However, later work has shown that the reaction product was probably a polymeric mixture (61JOC4782). Subsequently, compound 265 was irradiated to give a mixture of CO, sulfur, and dithiin and thiophene derivatives, which could, at least in part, be explained by the formation of 266 (72JHC707). Results of the thermolysis of 267 were also rationalized in terms of the intermediacy of o-dithiobenzo-quinone (the tautomer of 264) (78JOC2084). 

There have been very few examples of PTV derivatives substituted at the vinylene position. One example poly(2,5-thienylene-1,2-dimethoxy-ethenylene) 102 has been documented by Geise and co-workers and its synthesis is outlined in Scheme 1-32 [133]. Thiophene-2,5-dicarboxaldehyde 99 is polymerized using a benzoin condensation the polyacyloin precursor 100 was treated with base to obtain polydianion 101. Subsequent treatment with dimethyl sulfate affords 102, which is soluble in solvents such as chloroform, methanol, and DMF. The molar mass of the polymer obtained is rather low (M = 1010) and its band gap ( ,.=2.13 eV) is substantially blue-shifted relative to PTV itself. Despite the low effective conjugation, the material is reasonably conductive when doped with l2 (cr=0.4 S cm 1). 

There have been a number of different synthetic approaches to substituted PTV derivatives proposed in the last decade. Almost all focus on the aromatic ring as the site for substitution. Some effort has been made to apply the traditional base-catalyzed dehydrohalogenation route to PTV and its substituted analogs. The methodology, however, is not as successful for PTV as it is for PPV and its derivatives because of the great tendency for the poly(u-chloro thiophene) precursor spontaneously to eliminate at room temperature. Swager and co-workers attempted this route to synthesize a PTV derivative substituted with a crown ether with potential applications as a sensory material (Scheme 1-26) [123]. The synthesis employs a Fager condensation [124] in its initial step to yield diol 78. Treatment with a ditosylate yields a crown ether-functionalized thiophene diester 79. This may be elaborated to dichloride 81, but pure material could not be isolated and the dichloride monomer had to be polymerized in situ. The polymer isolated... 

Acctothicnone has been prepared by treating thiophene with acetyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride1 or stannic chloride,2 and by treating 2-chloromercurithiophene with acetyl chloride.3 The present method is essentially that of Stadnikoff and Goldfarb.2 Stannic chloride is superior to aluminum chloride as a catalyst for this reaction as the latter induces polymerization of the thiophene. 

The electrochemical oxidation of monomers such as pyrrole,2-5 thiophene,6-9 aniline,10-13 etc., or their derivatives, initiates a polymerization process at the electrode/electrolyte interface that promotes the formation of a polymeric film that adheres to the electrode. A similar homogeneous polymerization process can be initiated by chemical oxidation or chemical polymerization.14-21 Some monomers can be polymerized as well by electrochemical or chemical reduction. 

Most 2,5-unsubstituted pyrroles and thiophenes, and most anilines can be polymerized by electrochemical oxidation. For pyrroles, acetonitrile,54 or aqueous55 electrolyte solutions are normally used, while the polymerization of thiophenes is performed almost exclusively in nonaqueous solvents such as acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, and benzonitrile. 0 Polyanilines are generally prepared from a solution of aniline in aqueous acid.21 Platinum or carbon electrodes have been used in most work, although indium-tin oxide is routinely used for spectroelectrochemical experiments, and many other electrode materials have also been employed.20,21... 

The most widely accepted mechanism for the anodic polymerization of pyrroles and thiophenes involves the coupling of radical cations produced at the electrode (Scheme l).5 The oligomers so produced, which are more easily oxidized than the monomer, are rapidly oxidized and couple with each other and with monomer radical cations. Coupling occurs predominantly at the a-positions (i.e., 2- and 5-position),5 and so pyrroles and thiophenes with substituents in either of these positions do not undergo anodic polymerization. The reaction is stoichiometric in that two... 

Preparation of Reactants. Reagent-grade, thiophene free benzene was stored over 4A molecular sieves and sodium ribbon in a helium atmosphere. Styrene was distilled to remove dissolved oxygen and moisture and stored under a helium atmosphere. Prior to use, styrene was injected into a copious quantity of methanol to determine if any polymerization had occurred. If there was... 

In contrast to the steric effoits, the purely electronic influences of substituents are less clear. They are test documented by linear free-energy relationships, which, for the cases in question, are for the most part only plots of voltammetrically obtained peak oxidation potentials of corresponding monomers against their respective Hammett substituent constant As a rule, the linear correlations are very good for all systems, and prove, in aax>rdance with the Hammett-Taft equation, the dominance of electronic effects in the primary oxidation step. But the effects of identical substituents on the respective system s tendency to polymerize differ from parent monomer to parent monomer. Whereas thiophenes which receive electron-withdrawing substituents in the, as such, favourable P-position do not polymerize at all indoles with the same substituents polymerize particularly well... 

---