First Synthesis of Isotactic Poly(9-alkyl₁-9-alkyl₂fluorene) via Directed Aryl−Aryl Coupling of Chiral AB-Type Monomers

Abstract

Nonsymmetrically substituted chiral 9-alkyl1-9-alkyl2fluorene monomers of the AB type allow for their directed, stereoregular aryl−aryl cross-coupling after Suzuki leading to isotactic poly(9-alkyl1-9-alkyl2fluorene). As expected, the isotactic poly(9-dodecyl-9-methylfluorene) i-PF1-12 of this study shows an increased solid state ordering and distinctly different thermal properties when compared to its corresponding atactic, stereoirregular polyfluorene counterpart a-PF1-12. This and other isotactic polyfluorene derivatives will be interesting building blocks for the generation of chiral, all-conjugated block copolymers.