Poly(1,10-phenanthroline-3,8-diyl) and Its Derivatives. Preparation, Optical and Electrochemical Properties, Solid Structure, and Their Metal Complexes

π-Conjugated poly(1,10-phenanthroline-3,8-diyl), PPhen, and its 5,6-dialkoxy derivatives, PPhen(5,6-OR)s, have been synthesized by using an organometallic polycondensation with a zerovalent nickel complex. They had average molecular weights of 4300−6800. PPhen had a stiff structure, as revealed by a light scattering method, and exhibited a strong dichroism in UV−vis absorption and photoluminescence. PPhen(5,6-OR)s formed an end-to-end packing assembly assisted by the side chain crystallization of the OR groups. PPhen and PPhen(5,6-OR)s were susceptible to chemical and electrochemical reduction, and the reduced state showed certain stability toward oxygen in air. The π-conjugated polymers underwent quantitative complex formation with [Ru(bpy) 2 ] 2+ . Introduction of two more imine nitrogens in the repeating unit of PPhen enhanced much the electron accepting property of PPhen, and n-doping of the obtained polymer took place at E pc of −1.38 V vs Ag + /Ag.