Functionalized poly(phenylene‐alt‐bithiophenes): Synthesis,chiroptical properties,and interaction with chiral amines

New functionalized, (a)chiral poly(phenylene‐alt‐bithiophene)s were prepared and their chiroptical properties were studied. The polymers were prepared by a Stille coupling reaction and were functionalized with protected carboxylic acid and amino functions (tert‐butyl ester and BOC respectively). The polymers are present as well conjugated rigid rods in solution, which (chirally) aggregate in nonsolvents and film. In a next step, the protecting group (tert‐butyl ester in case of the carboxylic acid) was removed. Aggregation of this polymer can be induced by addition of amines; if chiral amines are used, the polymer chains chirally stack. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4817–4829, 2008