Mechanistic Insight into Thiophene Catalyst-Transfer Polymerization Mediated by Nickel Diimine Catalysts

Catalyst-transfer polymerization (CTP) is a living, chain-growth method for accessing conjugated polymers with control over their length and sequence. Typical catalysts utilized in CTP are either Pd or Ni complexes with bisphosphine or N-heterocyclic carbene ancillary ligands. More recently, diimine-ligated Ni complexes have been employed; however, in most cases nonliving pathways become dominant at high monomer conversions and/or low catalyst loading. We report herein an alternative Ni diimine catalyst that polymerizes 3-hexylthiophene in a chain-growth manner at low catalyst loading and high monomer conversion. In addition, we elucidate the chain-growth mechanism as well as one chain-transfer pathway. Overall, these studies provide insight into the mechanism of conjugated polymer synthesis mediated by Ni diimine catalysts.