Tandem Kumada–Tamao catalyst-transfer condensation polymerization and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling for the synthesis of end-functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Abstract

Successive Kumada–Tamao catalyst-transfer condensation polymerization of 2-bromo-5-chloromagnesio-3-hexylthiophene and Suzuki–Miyaura end-functionalization with pinacol arylboronate in one pot afforded poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with a base-sensitive functional group at both ends. The use of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bearing a boronic acid ester moiety at one end enabled one-pot synthesis of PMMA-b-P3HT-b-PMMA triblock copolymer.