1D-π conjugated polymers are used in optoelectronic and electronic applications including light-emitting diodes, organic field-effect transistors, and photovoltaics. Appending solubilizing chains to the repeat units of 1D conjugated polymers has been the conventional route to improve the solubility and thus their solution processibility for use in the above-mentioned applications. Our group has previously shown that incorporating cycloalkyl straps to the aryl repeat units efficiently blocks the π-face of the repeat unit and renders soluble π-conjugated polymers without pendant solubilizing chains. Increasing the height of the cycloalkyl group increased the solubility of the polymers but lowered the polymer fluorescence quenching by an acceptor molecule. Thus, blocking the π-face of the conjugated polymer with the cycloalkyl groups hampers the charge transfer to acceptor molecules and lowers the Stern-Volmer quenching constant (KSV). To increase the KSV of strapped polymers, we synthesized copolymers with dithia[3.3]paracyclophane units and adamantanocyclophane and showed that the KSV of the copolymer was almost 5 times higher than the homopolymer but notably lower than the un-strapped conventional polymer. To further enhance the KSV of strapped polymers, we have synthesized a series of strapped copolymers containing structurally and electronically diverse comonomers. In this poster, I will discuss the synthesis of a series of copolymers of adamantanocyclophane with various un-strapped conjugated monomers. The effect of the chemical structure and electronic nature of the un-strapped co-monomers on the optical and photophysical properties is studied. Factors that play a key role in determining the KSV of strapped copolymers will be discussed.

Enhanced acceptor interaction in strapped conjugated polymers – the role of unstrapped comonomers

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

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