NOVEL CONJUGATED POLYMER CONTAINING ANTHRACENE BACKBONE - ADDITION POLYMER OF 9,10-DIETHYNYLANTHRACENE WITH 9,10-ANTHRACENEDITHIOL AND ITS PROPERTIES

9,10‐Diethynylanthracene was prepared by the alkaline hydrolysis of 9,10‐bis (trimethylsilylethynyl) anthracene. Another new monomer of 9, 10‐anthracenedithiol was prepared by the reduction of anthracene polydisulfide. A crystalline conjugated polymer of 9,10‐diethynylanthracene with 9,10‐anthracenedithiol was synthesized in a THF solution at 50°C by UV irradiation or by using radical initiators. The molecular weight (M̄n) of the insoluble polymer in THF is about 20000–30000 and the soluble is about 4000. From the sulfur content and IR spectrum of the insoluble polymer, it is realized that the obtained polymer has the alternating structure consisting of 9,10‐diethynylanthracene and 9,10‐anthracenedithiol units. X‐ray pattern indicated that the polymer has a layer structure. The conductivity of the undoped polymer was about 10−11S/cm, but enhanced up to 10−6 S/cm by doping with iodine. The enhancement of the conductivity seems to be the existence of the CT complex among the polymer backbone and iodine or iodine anion. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.