Synthesis of π-conjugated polymers bearing electronic and optical functionalities by organometallic polycondensations and their chemical properties

A wide variety of π-conjugated polymers have been synthesized by using organometallic polycondensations. For instance, Ni(0) complex-promoted dehalogenative polycondensation of dihaloaromatic compounds, X–Ar–X, affords poly(arylene)s, –(Ar)n–. Pd-catalyzed polycondensation gives alternating copolymers, –(Ar–Ar′)n–, and poly(arylene-ethynylene)s, –(Ar–CC–Ar′–CC)n–. These polymers show distinguishing optical and electrochemical properties and functionalities. Their well-characterized linear structures lead to molecular assembly and packing of the polymer molecules in solutions and in the solid state. In this article, we describe the synthesis of π-conjugated polymers by the organometallic polycondensations, chemical properties of the synthesized polymers, and applications of the polymers for electronic and optical devices.