HIGHLY CONJUGATED ALTERNATED POLY(3-OCTYLTHIOPHENE-CO-THIOPHENE)

A soluble copolymer formed by thiophene and 3-octylthiophene has been obtained by using nickel catalyst polymerization. The nearly alternate d structure allows the formation of a highly conjugated system althoug h the copolymer microstructure is not regioregular. H-1-NMR, GPC chara cterization and pyrolysis experiments support the alternated structure of the copolymer. Moreover, theoretical calculations indicate that th e average angle between adjacent monomeric units has been reduced, in agreement with the observed shift towards lower energy of the electron ic spectra of this alternated structure.