Synthesis of Miktoarm Branched Conjugated Copolymers by ROMPing In and Out

Architecture represents an underutilized yet promising control element in polymer design due to the challenging synthesis of compositionally varied branched copolymers. We report the one-pot synthesis of miktoarm branched polymers by ring-opening metathesis polymerization. In this work, we graft to and from telechelic poly(3-hexylthiophene), which is end-capped by oxime click chemistry, using various norbornene monomers. The self-assembly of the resulting miktoarm H-shaped conjugated polymers is studied in solution and in the solid state. A dual stimuli-responsive miktoarm polymer is prepared which displays pH-switchable lower critical solution temperature and fluorescence.