Incorporation of benzocarborane into conjugated polymer systems: synthesis, characterisation and optoelectronic properties†
Jonathan Marshall,Zhuping Fei,Chin Pang Yau,Nir Yaacobi-Gross,Stephan Rossbauer,Thomas D. Anthopoulos,Scott E. Watkins,Peter Beavis,Martin Heeney
Journal of Materials Chemistry C Pub Date : 11/12/2013 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C3TC31663G
Abstract

We present the novel 1,4-difunctionalisation of benzocarborane with organometallic groups suitable for cross-coupling and its subsequent insertion for the first time into conjugated polymer backbones. Copolymers with solubilised cyclopentadithiophene and diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives were prepared by Stille polymerisation in good molecular weight. The physical, material and optoelectronic properties of the resulting polymers were investigated, demonstrating that benzocarborane acts similarly to a stabilised, electron-deficient cis-diene linker. We also report the first polymer field effect transistors incorporating a benzocarborane in the backbone.

Graphical abstract: Incorporation of benzocarborane into conjugated polymer systems: synthesis, characterisation and optoelectronic properties