Synthesis, characterization and properties of poly(1-hexylpyrrylene vinylene)

A new conducting polymer, poly(1-hexylpyrrylene vinylene), PHxPyV, was obtained from the monomer, 1-hexyl-2,5bis (thiophenylmethylene)pyrrole, by base induced elimination/polymerization. The resulting deep purple conjugated polymer was partially soluble in a variety of organic solvents. The undoped polymer has λmax=563 nm (2.2eV), a band gap (band edge) of 1.69 eV, and also readily dopes with oxygen. The highest yield (72%) was obtained when the polymer was synthesized at room temperature with a monomer / base mole ratio of 1/4. Oxidative doping of polymer films using an acetonitrile solution of gold trichloride yields electronically conductive polymers (2.5 S/cm) containing the AuCl4− counter ion.