Electrooxidative generation of polymer films from rigid tricarbazole monomers

In this report, syntheses and subsequent electropolymerization of a series of five rigid tricarbazole monomers are described. The monomers involve three planar triphenylene-cored tricarbazole-benzenes (with the carbazole units connected via their a- or b-planes) and two triptycene-cored derivatives. Oxidative electropolymerization of these monomers leads to a continuous growth of smooth and freestanding thin films. Moreover, one type of polymer film, based on a poly-a-tricarbazole network (paTC), shows the occurrence of intrinsic microporosity properties, with a specific BET surface area of 260 m² g^-1.