Synthesis of Miktoarm Branched Conjugated Copolymers by ROMPing in and Out

Architecture represents a promising yet underutilized 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 that displays pH-switchable lower critical solution temperature and fluorescence.