Catalyst-transfer polymerization has revolutionized the field of polymer synthesis due to its living character, but for a given catalyst system, the polymer scope is rather narrow. Herein we report a highly efficient Suzuki−Miyaura catalyst-transfer polymerization (SCTP) that covers a wide range of monomers from electron-rich (donor, D) to electron-deficient (acceptor, A) (hetero)arenes by rationally designing boronate monomers and using commercially available Buchwald RuPhos and SPhos Pd G3 precatalysts. Initially, we optimized the controlled polymerization of 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT), benzotriazole (BTz), quinoxaline (QX), and 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline (QXPh) by introducing new boronates, such as 4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-1,3,6,2dioxazaborocane and its N-benzylated derivative, to modulate the reactivity and stability of the monomers. As a result, PProDOT, PBTz, PQX, and PQXPh were prepared with controlled molecular weight and narrow dispersity (Đ < 1.29) in excellent yield (>85%). A detailed investigation of the polymer structures using 1 H NMR and MALDI-TOF spectrometry supported the chain-growth mechanism and the high initiation efficiency of the SCTP method. In addition, the use of RuPhos−Pd showing excellent catalyst-transfer ability on both D/A monomers led to unprecedented controlled D−A statistical copolymerization, thereby modulating the HOMO energy level (from −5.11 to −4.80 eV) and band gap energy (from 1.68 to 1.91 eV) of the resulting copolymers. Moreover, to demonstrate the living nature of SCTP, various combinations of D−A and A−A block copolymers (PBTz-b-PProDOT, PQX-b-PProDOT, and PQX-b-PBTz) were successfully prepared by the sequential addition method. Finally, simple but powerful one-shot D−A block copolymerization was achieved by maximizing the rate difference between a fast-propagating pinacol boronate donor and a slow-propagating acceptor to afford well-defined poly(3hexylthiophene)-b-poly(benzotriazole).
Herein, we demonstrate that living Suzuki-Miyaura catalyst-transfer polymerization (SCTP) using a RuPhos Pd G3 precatalyst is a versatile method for the precision synthesis of various donor-acceptor alternating conjugated polymers (DA ACPs). First, the living SCTP of biaryl monomers with combinations of both medium to strong A and D were optimized to produce DA ACPs with controlled number average molecular weight (M n ), narrow dispersity (Ð, 1.05-1.29), and high yield (> 87 %). Moreover, its expansion to controlled polymerization (M n = 9.2-40.0 kg mol À 1 ) of an A 1 -D-A 2 -D quateraryl monomer containing diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP; strong A) was successful. The living SCTP also enabled the efficient one-pot synthesis of various diblock and triblock copolymers. Lastly, the DA ACPs showed tunable optical band gap (E g opt , from 1.29 to 1.77 eV) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level (from À 5.57 to À 4.75 eV), while their block copolymers exhibited broad absorption ranges and promising visible light-harvesting properties.
Herein, we demonstrate that living Suzuki-Miyaura catalyst-transfer polymerization (SCTP) using a RuPhos Pd G3 precatalyst is a versatile method for the precision synthesis of various donor-acceptor alternating conjugated polymers (DA ACPs). First, the living SCTP of biaryl monomers with combinations of both medium to strong A and D were optimized to produce DA ACPs with controlled number average molecular weight (M n ), narrow dispersity (Ð, 1.05-1.29), and high yield (> 87 %). Moreover, its expansion to controlled polymerization (M n = 9.2-40.0 kg mol À 1 ) of an A 1 -D-A 2 -D quateraryl monomer containing diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP; strong A) was successful. The living SCTP also enabled the efficient one-pot synthesis of various diblock and triblock copolymers. Lastly, the DA ACPs showed tunable optical band gap (E g opt , from 1.29 to 1.77 eV) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level (from À 5.57 to À 4.75 eV), while their block copolymers exhibited broad absorption ranges and promising visible light-harvesting properties.
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