Synthesis and self-assembly of polythiophene-based rod–coil and coil–rod–coil block copolymers

Block copolymers constituted of flexible poly(n-butyl acrylate) or poly(tert-butyl acrylate) and rigid poly(3-hexylthiophene) segments have been synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization and by oxidative polymerization accordingly. Two synthetic routes were followed to obtain rod–coil or coil–rod–coil block copolymers. The self-assembly of the copolymers in solution in a selective solvent of the flexible block was studied by means of static and dynamic light scattering.