The design and synthesis of benzodithiophene-containing poly(arylene ethynylene)s

Abstract

In Chapter 1, we provide an overview of the properties and applications of conjugated polymers, with a particular focus on poly(arylene ethynylene)s. We discuss the synthesis and photophysical properties of poly(arylene ethynylene)s, as well as their behavior in the solid state and at the air-water interface. We also provide a brief overview of the synthesis and properties of conjugated polymer networks and nanoparticles of poly(arylene ethynylene)s. Finally, we discuss the synthesis of benzodithiophene and benzodithiophene-containing conjugated polymers and poly(arylene ethynylene)s. In Chapter 2, we describe the design and synthesis of amphiphilic benzodithiophene-containing poly(arylene ethynylene)s for the synthesis of 2D-conjugated 2D polymers. We explore the behavior of the 1D-conjguated linear polymers at the air-water interface of a Langmuir- Blodgett trough, and describe our synthetic efforts toward the cross-polymerization of these polymers into 2D-conjugated 2D polymers. In Chapter 3, we explore the synthesis of conjugated polymer networks of benzodithiophene-containing poly(arylene ethynylene)s via the electrochemical and chemical crosslinking of two different 1 D-conjugated precursor polymers. We describe the characterization of the conjugated polymer network thin films and bulk materials and discuss the differences in the material properties depending on the starting polymer. In Chapter 4, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a series of benzodithiophene-containing poly(arylene ethynylene)s and poly(arylene butadiynylene)s for magneto-optical applications.