Microwave-assisted FeCl3-mediated rapid synthesis of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene) with high molecular weight

Poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene) with high molecular weight (Mw ∼ 81,000) is obtained in 25 min using a microwave-assisted FeCl3-mediated oxidative polymerization. The effects of microwave power, time, solvent, monomer and catalystʹs concentration on the polymerization have been systematically investigated. The structures and thermal properties of obtained polymers are fully characterized using FTIR, NMR, TGA, DSC, UV–visible absorption and fluorescence spectra. The results show that well-defined polymers have been obtained. XPS, ICP and elemental analysis are used to check the residue of iron catalyst, and almost no residue of FeCl3 is detected in polymers.