Polymerization of 3-alkylthiophenes with FeCl3

We report on the mechanism of direct oxidation of 3-alkylthiophenes using ferric chloride (FeCl3) as the polymerization oxidant/catalyst to produce high molecular weight poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3ATs), conjugated polymers that have potential as electrically and optically active polymers. This study shows that the FeCl3 must exist in the solid state in the reaction mixture to be active as an oxidant in the polymerization of P3AT. A feasible polymerization mechanism for 3-alkylthiophene was developed on the basis of the crystal structure of FeCl3 and quantum chemical computations of thiophene derivatives. The polymerization is hypothesized to proceed through a radical mechanism rather than a radical cation mechanism.