Electrosyntheses of high quality free-standing poly(9-fluorenone) films in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate

Abstract: High quality free-standing poly(9-fluorenone) (PFO) films were synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of 9-fluorenone (FO) in pure boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The oxidation potential of FO in this medium was measured to be only 1.48V versus SCE, which was greatly lower than that determined in CH2Cl2 +0.1moll−1 Bu4NBF4 (2.21V versus SCE). PFO films obtained from BFEE showed good electrochemical behavior, good thermal stability with electrical conductivity of 7.8×10−3 Scm−1, indicating that BFEE was a better medium than CH2Cl2 for the electrosyntheses of PFO films. Structural studies showed that the polymerization of FO ring occurred at 2,7-position. As-formed PFO films can be partly dissolved in acetone and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Fluorescent spectral studies indicate that PFO is a good blue light emitter. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the electrosyntheses of free-standing PFO films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]