Facile synthesis of a variety of triarylamine-based conjugated polymers and tuning of their optoelectronic properties

An alternating copolymer of fluorene and aniline (P1) was prepared by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization. P1 was used as a precursor for post-functionalization of the aniline moiety by Buchwald–Hartwig amination to give successfully P2–P4, having triarylamine units with a variety of substituents at the para-position of the aromatic ring introduced. The optical properties of P1–P4 were studied by UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL) analyses both in solution and in the film state, showing characteristic absorption and emission behaviors depending on their structures. The electrochemical behavior of the polymers in the thin-film state was also investigated by cyclic voltammetry to exhibit the reversible oxidation/re-reduction couples.