Synthesis, optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties of α,α′-bis(9,9-bis-n-hexylfluorenyl)-substituted oligothiophenes

A series of new α,α′-bis(9,9-bis-n-hexylfluorenyl)-substituted oligothiophenes with 2-, 4-, and 6-thiophene rings have been synthesized via a nickel-catalyzed reductive dimerization and their optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties investigated. The fluorene substituents have shown electronic interactions with the oligothiophene chains, enhanced the solubility of these materials and stabilized the radical cation and dication by blocking the reactive α-positions of the thiophene moieties. The absorption, fluorescence, electrochemical, and thermal properties of these materials can be tuned by varying the conjugation length of the oligothiophene segment.