OXIDATIVE CROSS-LINKING AND GRAFTING OF POLYMETHACRYLATES WITH PENDENT THIOPHENE GROUPS

The absorption spectrum of SbCl5 doped thin films of poly(2-thienylmet hyl methacrylate) displays new bands in the visible region attributabl e to electronic transitions in the radical cation of 2,5'-disubstitute d bithiophene. Apparently, radical cations of thiophene, initially gen erated upon doping, rapidly cross-link with neutral thiophenes on neig hboring chains. The polymer has been successfully grafted with other t hiophene monomers by a similar oxidative coupling reaction. The grafti ng of side-chain polymers with thiophene and pyrrole monomers could yi eld new electroactive and nonlinear optical materials.