A simple route to rod-coil block copolymers of oligo- and polythiophenes with PMMA and polystyrene

A simple and efficient approach for the preparation of rod-coil block copolymers comprising oligo- and polythiophenes blocks together with PMMA or PS blocks is described. The block copolymers were prepared using a two-step procedure. α,ω-dicarboxy-terminated oligothiophenes and carboxy terminated poly(3-hexylthiophene) were first prepared. These were then reacted with P₄S₁₀ in a second step to generate the α,ω-thioester terminated oligothiophenes and poly(3-hexylthiophene)s which were subsequently used in a one-pot reaction as RAFT polymerization agents with methylmethacrylate and styrene. The di- and tri-block copolymers hence obtained were fully characterized, both in solution and as thin films. Rod-coil block copolymers composed of oligo- and polythiophenes blocks together with PMMA or PS blocks are synthesized by RAFT polymerization. α,ω-Dicarboxy-terminated oligothiophenes and carboxy-terminated poly(3-hexylthiophene) are converted into the corresponding RAFT polymerization agents. The copolymers are characterized both in solution and as thin films.