Macromolecules, Vol.46, No.16, 6431-6438, 2013
A One-Step Strategy for End-Functionalized Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Polymers
A modular and robust method for preparing end-functionalized donor-acceptor (D-A) narrow bandgap conjugated polymers is reported that avoids multistep reactions and postpolymerization modification. The strategy is well-controlled and affords functional materials with predictable molecular weight and high end-group fidelity. To exemplify this synthetic strategy, narrow bandgap conjugated polymers based on PDPP2FT were prepared that contain perylene diimide (PDI) units at the chain-ends. Monte Carlo simulations confirm the high degree of chain-end functionalization while photoluminescence studies reveal the unique photophysical properties of the end-functional polymers with efficient charge transfer occurring between the main polymer chain and PDI end-groups that results exclusively from their covalent linkage.