Thiacalix[3]Triazine-centered regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) star: synthesis, structure and anion binding

The first synthesis of a well-defined star polymer consisting of three regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT) arms emanating from an electron acceptor thiacalix[3]wtriazine core via direct arylation polymerization is described. Its structural characteristics as well as optical and thermal properties were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods. The UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy results evidenced the impact of the electron-withdrawing feature of the thiacalix[3]triazine core and the star structure on the optical behavior of the star-shaped material, as compared to the rr-P3HT linear analogue. The anion-binding property of the star-shaped P3HT resulting in fluorescence quenching was also studied. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].