Thianaphthene has been electrochemically polymerized in pure boron trifluor
ide diethyl etherate (BFEE) solution or in a mixed electrolyte of BFEE and
concentrated sulfuric acid (SA). The addition of a certain amount of sulfur
ic acid into BFEE accelerated the polymerization and also increased the cur
rent efficiency of the electrosynthesis. Poly(thianaphthene) (PTN) in the d
edoped state is soluble in usual strong polar organic solvents such as dime
thyl sulfoxide (DMSO), NN-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl pyrrolidinon
e (NMP). Its structure has been examined by infrared, H-1-NMR and UV spectr
a. Fluorescent spectral studies indicate that the polymer is a strong blue
light emitter. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.