Conjugated and fluorescent polymer based on dansyl-substituted pyrrole prepared by electrochemical polymerization in acetonitrile containing boron trifluoride diethyl etherate

• A fluorescent pyrrole derivative bearing a dansyl substituent (PyPDG) was synthesized.
• PyPDG was electropolymerized onto ITO in (C4H9)4NBF4/CH3CN/BFEE mixed electrolyte.
• The resulting polymer (PPyPDG) films displayed electrochromic behavior.
• PPyPDG is a good green light emitter material.

A fluorescent pyrrole derivative bearing a dansyl substituent was prepared by a simple synthetic route and electropolymerized onto Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) electrodes. The presence of the dansyl group in the monomer precursor prevents the electropolymerization in usual systems, such as (C4H9)4NBF4 in acetonitrile (CH3CN). For this reason, it was added 20% boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) to this system, to achieve electropolymerization. The resulting poly[3-(N-pyrrolyl)propyl dansylglycinate] (PPyPDG) films displayed electrochromic behavior. Their color varied from greenish-yellow, in the neutral state, to greyish-green, in the oxidized state; moreover PPyPDG is a good green light emitter material. Therefore, PPyPDG films might be potentially applicable in displays and optoelectronic devices.

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