Synthesis of regioregular phenyl substituted polythiophenes with FeCl3

Abstract The versatility of the regioregular polymerization of substituted 3-phenylthiophenes with FeCl 3 was investigated. Regioregular and soluble polythiophenes with alkyl, alkoxy or diethylene glycol sidechains on the phenyl ring have been prepared. Some of the polymers have relatively low bandgaps and some have high photoluminescence efficiencies.