Synthesis and properties of novel thiophene-based conjugated homologues: 9,9-diphenylfluorene-capped oligothiophenes

[reaction: see text] A series of novel 9,9-diarylfluorene-capped oligothiophenes were synthesized by Suzuki coupling reactions in good yields. The color of the emissions can be controlled by varying the conjugation length of the oligothiophene core. The bulky and rigid terminal groups of the resulting oligomers are significantly beneficial for their high morphological and thermal stability. These new oligothiophenes exhibit intriguing reversible oxidation and reduction redox behavior.