Herein we report a facile synthetic strategy to prepare well-defined bottlebrush polymers incorporating poly(3-hexylthiphene) (P3HT) as a conjugated polymeric side-chain through the macromonomer approach. Norbornenyl functionalized P3HT macromonomer was synthesized by Kumada catalyst transfer polycondensation (KCTP) followed by post-polymerization modifications including Suzuki and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)-promoted coupling reactions. The macromonomer was then further polymerized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), producing the conjugated bottle-brush polymer. The unique topology of conjugated bottlebrush polymers resulted in significant changes in their morphologies, thermal and electronic properties as compared to conventional linear P3HTs. Our synthetic approach will provide an opportunity to synthesize a new and important class of conjugated (co)polymers, by which morphology, and electronic properties of the resulting polymers can be tailored in useful and interesting ways.

Conjugated bottle-brush polymers incorporating poly(3-hexylthiophene) as brush side-chains

245th National Meeting (2013)

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