Semiconducting polymers based on charge-transfer complexes. I. Synthesis of electron-donor-containing poly-N-acylethylnimines

Polymers were made which contained 10-methyl, 3-phenothiazinyl, and 4-(methylthio)phenoxy electron-donating groups on side chains. N-Acyl-substituted poly-ethylenimines were chosen because the repeat distance along the polymer chain is the same as the repeat distance in most aromatic charge-transfer complexes (about 6.4 Å) and the side chains do not interfere with each other. This paper describes synthetic routes for preparation of these electron-donor-containing polymers. Synthesis of a polyacrylate donor is also described.