Synthesis of poly(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diyl)s having a π-stacked, helical conformation

Abstract

5,6-Dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline and 2,9-di-n-butyl-5,6-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline were polymerized using a Ni catalyst to afford helical polymers in which the phenanthroline moieties are densely stacked on top of each other. Polymerization of the latter monomer using a chiral catalyst led to a preferred-handed helix. This is the first Ni-catalyzed helix-sense-selective polymerization of aromatic compounds.