Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of poly(4,4 '(5 ')-bis[(3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thien-2-yl] tetrathiafulvalene) films - A new TTF-bithiophene regular copolymer

Anodic coupling of 4,4'(5')-bis[(3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thien-2-yl)]tetrathiafu lvalene (1) in acetonitrile has produced a new polythiophene-based polymer containing tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) moieties regularly inserted in the poly thiophene chain. The polymer poly(1) has been compared with poly(3-[7-oxa-8 -(4-tetrathiafulvalenyl)octyl]-2,2'-bithiophene) bearing the TTF moieties a s pendant groups. The polymer films were characterized by cyclic voltammetr y, FTIR reflection-absorption and UV-vis spectroscopy, in situ ESR and in s itu conductivity. The reversible oxidation of the polymers in two one-elect ron steps at the TTF moiety displays characteristics which suggest a faster electron transfer and a higher redox conductivity for poly(1). (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.