The recent development of a controlled, living chain growth mechanism for the synthesis of π-conjugated polymers has led to the development of many new materials. Donor-acceptor π-conjugated polymers, however, are still usually prepared via step-growth methods, leading to a lack of control over the polymerization. Herein we present a Kumada chain-growth polymerization that yields a conjugated polymer with alternating donor-acceptor groups. We have incorporated fluorine substituents into the acceptor group, which has been shown to improve the efficiencies of polymer solar cells. Through catalyst development, we have been able to demonstrate a living, chain growth behavior, synthesizing polymers with low dispersities and high molecular weights (20 kg/mol). The synthesis of block co-polymers using our monomer will also be discussed. <br/>

Controlled Kumada catalyst-transfer polymerization of a fluorinated donor-acceptor conjugated monomer

255th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.