Helical Conjugated Polymers by Design

Abstract

Some alternating phenylene−furan units can lead to conformationally locked conjugated polymers. Depending upon the substitution pattern, rigid-rod-like or helical structures can be rationally designed. The presence of helical structure in poly(1,4-(2,3-dialkoxyphenylene)- alt -2,5-furan)s has been demonstrated by adding chiral side chains and by performing circular dichroism measurements. In a good solvent, this polymer exhibits some chiroptical properties which decreases upon aggregation in poor solvents. In contrast, rigid-rod-like poly(1,4-(2,5-di-( S )-2-methylbutoxyphenylene)- alt -2,5-furan) only shows chiroptical properties upon aggregation.