Study of the metal complexation-ability of Nitrile functionalised oligo and polythiophenes: synthesis and study of the metal complexation-ability

The synthesis and the complexation properties of some β-sulfanylheptanenitrile functionalised oligo- and polythiophenes reported are studied. The ability of these polymers towards the complexation of different transition metals is compared, in order to get insight into the influence of the substitution density and of the conjugation length on the chelating skills. The complexation-ability is a crucial property in view of possible applications of these materials as chemical sensors for metal ions detection1 or as carbon substitute materials for catalyst support for oxygen reduction or methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells2 (DMFC).References:1) J. Maiti, B. Pokhrel, R. Boruah, S.K.Dolui, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 2009, 141,447-451; A.Pietrangelo, M. N. Roberts, M. J. MacLachlan, M.O.Wolf, Polymer Preprints 2009, 50, 280.2) M. Saito, H. Shiroishi, C.to Onoa, S. Tsuzuki, T. Okadaa, Y. Uchimoto, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 2006, 248, 99–108; R. P. Kingsborough, T. M. Swager, Chemistry of Materials 2000, 12, 872-874.