Herein, we demonstrate a new approach to control a structural parameter of polythiophene: the dihedral angle of the backbone. To achieve this, we exploited the unique polymerization mechanism of cyclopolymerization. We designed and synthesized gemini thiophene monomers in which two thiophene monomers are tethered by an alkylene strap and we processed the monomers by using the catalyst-transfer polycondensation method. We found that the dihedral angle in the polythiophene is dictated by the size of the macrocycle formed, thus allowing for the control of the photophysical properties of polythiophenes.
- Chunhui Zhao
- Kazuhiko Nagura
- Kazunori Sugiyasu
