Molecular recognition of alkali‐ions by crown‐ether‐functionalized poly(alkylthiophenes)

Abstract

New crown‐ether‐functionalized alkyl(oligothiophene)s (see Figure) have been synthesized and electropolymerized to alkali metal ion sensitive poly(alkylthiophene)s. It is shown for the first time that the redox chemistry of a conducting polymer is strongly influenced by the specific host‐guest interaction, although the crown ether units are not π‐conjugated to the conducting backbone but separated by an insulating oxa‐alkyl chain. magnified image