Poly(alpha-vinyl-omega-alkyloligothiophene) side-chain polymers. Synthesis, fluorescence, and morphology

The synthesis of polyvinyl polymers by radical polymerization of alpha-vinyl-omega-alkyl-terminated thiophene and bi-, ter-, and quaterthiophenes is reported. The photoluminescence properties of the polymers in solution and in thin film are described. In thin film, self-assembly-induced white photoluminescence was observed for poly(5-vinyl-5"'-hexylquaterthiophene). For this polymer, single crystals with rectangular shape and micrometer size were obtained by drop casting from CS2. MM3 calculations on model diads and triads indicate that, on increasing the size of the side groups, van der Waals interactions promote the stacking of the pendants on the same side of the polyvinyl chain.