Conductive Block Copolymers Integrated into Polynorbornene-Derived Scaffolds

The synthesis and electrochem. properties of novel block copolymers are reported. Three different norbornene derivs. having phenylene-thiophene, phenylene-bithiophene, and phenylene-furan structures were copolymd. with either norbornene or 7-oxanorbornene derivs. via ring-opening metathesis polymn. (ROMP). Block copolymers’ stabilities and solubilities could be improved by hydrogenation of double bonds in the polymer backbone. The block copolymers were subsequently cross-linked by anodic electropolymn. of phenylene-heterocycle moieties, affording conducting polymers. All of these three block copolymers were readily deposited on the electrode substrates, and their cyclic voltammograms (CVs) revealed an excellent reversibility in the redox cycles. [on SciFinder(R)]