Synthesis of conjugated polymers via oxidative polymerization and related compositions

Abstract

An improved polymerization method including a method comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising a first monomer, an organic oxidant, and at least one Lewis acid or Brönsted acid, wherein the first monomer comprises at least one optionally substituted heterocyclic ring, wherein the heterocyclic ring comprises at least one heteroatom; and reacting the reaction mixture to obtain a conjugated polymer. The method can reduce the content of undesirable entities in the polymer such as halogens and metals, which can be useful in organic electronic device applications. Purification methods also are adapted to remove organic and inorganic impurities.

1 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . A method comprising: polymerizing at least one first monomer in the presence of at least one organic oxidant to form a conjugated polymer, wherein the first monomer comprises at least one substituted thiophene ring. 
     
     
         98 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the conjugated polymer is not obtained by electrochemical polymerization, by transition-metal-promoted cross coupling of organic dihalide groups, or by oxidative chemical polymerization using metal-based oxidant.