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Chirality in polythiophenes: A review.

Kun Wang¹, Yin Xiao¹

¹School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Functional Fine Chemicals, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.

|June 24, 2021

Summary

Chiral polythiophenes (PThs) are versatile chiral materials with diverse applications. This review covers their synthesis, properties, and applications over the last decade, focusing on chirality implementation and optical activity.

Keywords:

chirality copolymers helix optical activity polythiophenes

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Organic Chemistry

Background:

Chiroptical polythiophenes (PThs) are a significant class of chiral conductive polymers.
They are gaining attention for applications in chiral sensing, separation, catalysis, and optoelectronics.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the progress in chiral polythiophenes (PThs) over the past 10 years.
To focus on the implementation of chirality and the optical activity of PThs.
To highlight diverse applications of chiral PThs.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on chiral polythiophene synthesis.
Analysis of methods for inducing chirality (side-chain substituents, external chiral media).
Examination of optical activity and structure-property relationships.

Main Results:

Chirality in PThs can be introduced via various side-chain substituents (point, planar, axial) or external chiral environments.
Significant advancements have been made in controlling and characterizing the chiroptical properties of PThs.
Demonstrated potential in applications such as chiral sensing, asymmetric catalysis, and chiroptical devices.

Conclusions:

Chiral polythiophenes represent a rapidly developing field with substantial application potential.
Further research into synthesis, property tuning, and novel applications is warranted.
Continued exploration of their use in advanced fields like chiroptronics and spintronics is expected.