Chain-Growth Polymerization of Unusual Anion-Radical Monomers Based on Naphthalene Diimide: A New Route to Well-Defined n-Type Conjugated Copolymers

Strongly electron-deficient (n-type) main-chain g-conjugated polymers are commonly prepared via well-established step-growth polycondensation protocols which enable limited control over polymerization. Here we demonstrate that activated Zn and electron-deficient brominated thiophene-naphthalene diimide oligomers form anion-radical complexes instead of conventional Zn-organic derivatives. These highly unusual zinc complexes undergo Ni-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization leading to n-type conjugated polymers with controlled molecular weight, relatively narrow polydispersities, and specific end-functions.