Transition-metal-free controlled polymerization of 2-perfluoroaryl-5-trimethylsilylthiophenes

Takanobu Sanji; Tomokazu Iyoda

doi:10.1021/ja505282z

Transition-metal-free controlled polymerization of 2-perfluoroaryl-5-trimethylsilylthiophenes

J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Jul 23;136(29):10238-41. doi: 10.1021/ja505282z. Epub 2014 Jul 10.

Authors

Takanobu Sanji¹, Tomokazu Iyoda

Affiliation

¹ Iyoda Supra-Integrated Material Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and Frontier Research Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology , 4259-S2-3 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan.

PMID: 25010892
DOI: 10.1021/ja505282z

Abstract

A catalytic amount of fluoride anion promoted the polymerization of 2-pentafluorophenyl-5-trimethylsilylthiophene, providing a high-molecular-weight conjugated polymer in a chain-growth-like manner. The resulting polymer with a controlled molecular weight and a low molecular weight distribution was obtained in a high yield. The mechanism involves a pentacoordinated fluorosilicate as a key intermediate. The active polymerization end also initiated the second polymerization to afford well-defined block copolymers.