Electrochemical polymerization of thianaphthene

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.