An ionic conjugated polymer from the catalyst-free polymerization of 2-ethynylpyridine using 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl chloride

An ionic conjugated polymer was synthesized via the catalyst-free polymerization of 2-ethynylpyridine using 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl chloride. The activated triple bond of quaternized monomer, formed at first reaction step, was susceptible to linear polymerization. The chemical structure of resulting polymer was characterized by various instrumental methods to have the conjugated polymer backbone structure with the N-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)pyridinium chlorides. The inherent viscosity of the resulting polymer was 0.14 dL/g and the polymer was soluble in such organic solvents as pyridine, DMF, DMSO, NMP, etc. Maximum value of photoluminescence (PL) spectrum was exhibited 570 nm according to the photon energy of 2.18 eV. The band gap of 2.23 eV was calculated by absorption spectrum. Oxidation and reduction of polymer were performed in the range of -1.8 V to 1.50 V using cyclic voltammetry and exhibited overall stable electrochemical property for 30 cycles. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].