Organic Light-Emitting Materials and Devices, 2nd Edition

2.7.3 Syntheses of Polythiophenes

2.7.3.1  Polymerization of Thiophene Monomers with FeCl₃ (Chart 2.166)

From Pomerantz, M., Tseng, J.J., Zhu, H., Sproull, S.J., Reynolds, J.R., Uitz, R., Amott, H.G., and Haider, M.I., Synth. Met., 41–43: 825, 1991. Copyright 1991, Elsevier, Amsterdam. With permission.

Into a 100-ml, three-neck flask equipped with a magnetic stirring bar, condenser, dropping funnel, and an inlet for dry air was added 3-alkylthiophene (7 mmol). A solution of anhydrous FeCl₃ (1.0 g) in chloroform (50 ml) was added to the alkylthiophene for about 20 min, and the solution became dark. The mixture was then warmed to 50°C and stirred for 24 h at this temperature, while dry air was bubbled through to remove HCl from the reaction mixture. ...