Synthesis and electronic properties of poly (E,E)-[6.2]-(2,5) thiophenophane-1,5-diene)

Cationic cyclopolymerization of (E, E)-6.2]-(2,5) thiophenophane-1,5-diene ( 2 ) gave polymer 3 which has bridged thiophene rings pendant to the polymer backbone. The structural, thermal, and electronic properties of polymer 3 were compared to those of its benzene analogue ( 1 ) and its nonbridged analogue poly (2-vinylthiophene) ( 5 ). The onsets of thermal degradation for polymers 3 and 5 under helium were 425 and 382°C, respectively. Polymer 3 exhibited conductivity in the 10^?3?10^?4 S/cm range when exposed to iodine vapor, four orders of magnitude higher than for 5 treated in the same manner. Apparent energies of activation for conductivity in iodine saturated polymers 3 (0.57 eV) and 5 (0.61 eV) were calculated from conductivity temperature dependence measurements. Conductivity parameters for iodine saturated 3 show both a higher level of conductivity and weaker temperature dependence than for the corresponding cyclopolymer 1 which has benzene rather than thiophene moieties, suggesting that greater charge generation occurs in 3 , due to the lower oxidation potential of the thiophenophane repeat units. Differences in conductivity behavior for iodine saturated polymers 1, 3 , and 5 are discussed in terms of both charge generation and mobility. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.