A new crown ether-functionalized conjugated polymer for an electrochemically switchable cation recognition

A new compound consisting of two 3-thienyl units linked together by a crown ether functionality has been synthesized and its electrochemical behavior has been investigated in CH3CN. Its electropolymerization was found to consume four electrons per molecule, which is in agreement with a reaction involving both aromatic groups. The electroactive properties of this polymer were characterized by two stable p- and n-doped states, the redox potentials of which were shifted in the presence of K+ as a guest cation.