Three-Strand Conducting Ladder Polymers: Two-Step Electropolymerization of Metallorotaxanes

Sequential polymerization of supramolecular metallorotaxane complexes results in three-stranded conducting ladder polymers. The internal polymer is "sandwiched" between the other two polymers to give molecular wires that are effectively insulated when the outer polymers are in their nonconducting state (shown schematically). The intermolecular conductivity can be mediated by the Cu(1+)/Cu(2+) redox couple.