Nickel Catalyzed Synthesis of Poly-(9,9 substituted) Fluorenes Aided by an Alkyl Lithium Reagent
This technology Provides a novel method for producing poly - (9,9 di-substituted) fluorenes, blue light-emitting semiconducting polymers useful for various optoelectronic and biological applications. It involves the use of an organolithium reagent, a catalytic nickel (II) species and a functional ligand, enabling one-step, one-pot polymer synthesis at ambient temperatures. This novel synthesis route represents a significant advance in the area of semiconducting polymer synthesis.
The commercial use of this technology is the efficient production of semiconducting polymers for a wide variety of fields of use such as light-emitting diodes, commercial lighting, displays, organic electronic circuitry (switches, transistors, modulators, memory elements), photovoltaic devices, fuel cell devices, optical devices (waveguides, lasers), sensors, etc.
Simple and Efficient: The one-step, one-pot synthesis route does not require long reaction time, high reaction temperature, large amounts of expensive nickel reagents, or inert atmospheric handling of reagents. The use of nickel (II) as a catalyst reduces its use to catalytic amount, thus providing an economic transformation of monomeric materials into polymers and streamlining the production of high-performance polymers free of metal contaminants. The use of a functional ligand in the polymerization reaction eliminates the need of any external heating, leading to further cost savings.
Versatile: A wide choice of dihalogenated fluorene monomers can be used to produce semiconducting polymers with desired properties for specific end-use applications.
Environmentally Friendly: This novel approach to polyfluorene synthesis eliminates the use of toxic ligands that negatively impact the environment.
US Patent 7,947,801 issued
Ling X. Shen, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Licensing Officer
Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property
Phone: 413-545-5276
E-mail: lxshen@research.umass.edu