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  1. null (Ed.)
    Polyacetals have significant potential as degradable polymers, but aldehyde polymerizations are generally difficult to control. Here we show that polymerization of ethyl glyoxylate can be initiated from alcohols or thiols by activation with triethylamine to afford poly(ethyl glyoxylate) with controllable molecular weights and relatively low dispersities (Đ = 1.3–1.4), as evidenced by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Stabilization against depolymerization by chain-capping with benzyl chloroformate was found to proceed without side reactions observed from chain-capping with tolyl isocyanate. The use of the stronger base DBU leads to competing side reactions that limit polymer molecular weight. 
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  2. null (Ed.)
  3. ipso -Arylative cross-coupling with two 3-hexylthiophene derivatives, (5-bromo-4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)diphenylmethanol and 2-(5-bromo-4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)propan-2-ol, has been used to prepare poly(3-hexylhiophene) (P3HT) as a model conjugated polymer. P3HT with number-average molecular weights ranging from 8–20 kg mol −1 ( Đ 1.4–2.2) was prepared from 5-bromo-4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)diphenylmethanol with a Pd(OAc) 2 /PCy 3 /Cs 2 CO 3 catalyst system. Only oligomerization of 2-(5-bromo-4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)propan-2-ol ( M n ≈ 3 kg mol −1 ) was observed under similar conditions. Studies with model compounds suggest that side reactions involving end-group loss limit ultimate molecular weights. 
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  4. Abstract

    ipso‐Arylative ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐bromo‐8‐aryl‐8H‐indeno[2,1‐b]thiophen‐8‐ol monomers proceeds to Mnup to 9 kg mol−1with conversion of the monomer diarylcarbinol groups to pendent conjugated aroylphenyl side chains (2‐benzoylphenyl or 2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl), which influence the optical and electronic properties of the resulting polythiophenes. Poly(3‐(2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl)thiophene) was found to have lower frontier orbital energy levels (HOMO/LUMO=−5.9/−4.0 eV) than poly(3‐hexylthiophene) owing to the electron‐withdrawing ability of the aryl ketone side chains. The electron mobility (ca. 2×10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1) for poly(3‐(2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl)thiophene) was found to be significantly higher than the hole mobility (ca. 8×10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1), which suggests such polymers are candidates for n‐type organic semiconductors. Density functional theory calculations suggest that backbone distortion resulting from side‐chain steric interactions could be a key factor influencing charge mobilities.

     
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  5. Abstract

    ipso‐Arylative ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐bromo‐8‐aryl‐8H‐indeno[2,1‐b]thiophen‐8‐ol monomers proceeds to Mnup to 9 kg mol−1with conversion of the monomer diarylcarbinol groups to pendent conjugated aroylphenyl side chains (2‐benzoylphenyl or 2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl), which influence the optical and electronic properties of the resulting polythiophenes. Poly(3‐(2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl)thiophene) was found to have lower frontier orbital energy levels (HOMO/LUMO=−5.9/−4.0 eV) than poly(3‐hexylthiophene) owing to the electron‐withdrawing ability of the aryl ketone side chains. The electron mobility (ca. 2×10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1) for poly(3‐(2‐(4‐hexylbenzoyl)phenyl)thiophene) was found to be significantly higher than the hole mobility (ca. 8×10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1), which suggests such polymers are candidates for n‐type organic semiconductors. Density functional theory calculations suggest that backbone distortion resulting from side‐chain steric interactions could be a key factor influencing charge mobilities.

     
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