Electrosynthesis of poly(N‐ethyl‐3,6‐carbazolediyl) catalyzed by a Ni(0)‐based complex

Poly( N ‐ethyl‐3,6‐carbazolediyl) was synthesized by electroreduction of the NiBr 2 /2,2′‐bipyridine/3,6‐dibromo‐ N ‐ethylcarbazole system in N , N ‐dimethylacetamide. Both gel permeation chromatography analyses of the polymer formed and electrochemical studies of the system during the course of polymerization in homogeneous phase point at a constant efficiency of the catalytic complex. The latter generates potentially active species which contain the transition metal inserted into a CBr bond. Mechanisms of formation of the growing chains are proposed on the basis of the electrochemical behaviour of the catalytic system. Chemical doping of the polymer leads to a material the conductivity of which is in the range 10 −4 < σ/(Ω −1 · cm −1 ) < 10 −3 .