A novel conducting polymer polyfluoranthene: Electrosyntheses and characterization

High quality polyfluoranthene (PFA) films, a novel inherently conducting polymer with electrical conductivity of 10− 2 S cm− 1, were synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of fluoranthene in a middle strong Lewis acid boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). PFA films obtained from this medium showed good redox activity and stability even in concentrated sulfuric acid. Moreover, the fluorescence properties of PFA were greatly improved in comparison with those of the monomer. Dedoped PFA films were partly soluble in polar solvent such as CH2Cl2, acetone, tetrahedrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide. Quantum chemistry calculations of fluoranthene monomer and 1H NMR spectroscopy of dedoped PFA films were used to reach deep insight into the polymer structure. The polymerization mainly occurred at C (3), C (4), C (13) and C (14) positions.