Functional polymers based on electron-donating TTF and derivatives

This review highlights the recent progress of electron-donating polymers containing thio-cyclic units (tetrathiafulvalene, dithiafulvene, thioketene dimers). These polymers with TTF derivatives in the main chain and side chain have been studied with the aim of improving processability of their charge transfer complexes and increasing the dimensionality of their conducting paths in the solid state. This review also highlights a novel synthetic methodology of the electroactive polymers, i.e., cycloaddition polymerization of bisthioketene to produce poly(dithiafulvene) and oxidative polymerization of bisdithiafulvenyl monomers and thioketene dimers. In the application of poly(dithiafulvene)s to the polymer–metal hybrid systems, they act as not only the reducing agent but also the stabilizer for the formed metal nanoparticles.