SYNTHESIS OF METHACRYLATE AND SILICONE POLYMERS WITH PENDANT THIOPHENE GROUPS

We report the preparation of copolymers of hexenylthiophene with methy lacrylate using various radical initiators. The resulting polymers wer e readily soluble and in acetonitrile were electropolymerized to give passivating or conducting films depending on the proportion of thiophe ne groups in the copolymer. Chemical polymerization with FeCl3 led to a polymer with conductivity 0.6 S cm(-1) after doping. We also describ e the synthesis of ((RRSiO)-R-1-Si-2)(n) polymers with R-1=CH3 and R-2 =(CH2)(n)(C4H3S). The thiophene groups are connected at the 3-position . The corresponding alkenylthiophene starting material undergoes hydro silylation with the readily available and well-characterized polysilic ones ((RHSiO)-H-1)(n) in the presence of a catalyst. The polymers coul d be oxidized and doped chemically or electrochemically to produce bla ck materials with surprisingly low conductivity (10(-5) S cm(-1)) sugg esting interchain coupling of thiophene groups.