Synthesis of a carbazole substituted unusual cobalt(ii)dioxime complex to design conducting polymers with caged metal centers for enhanced optical and electrical properties

Abstract

Conjugated hybrid structures (conductive metallopolymers) designed by incorporating transition metals into conductive polymers can increase the properties of both materials and eliminate the disadvantages of materials for final applications to achieve the desired optical and electrical properties. Here, S,S'-substituted vicinal dithioglyoxime and its mononuclear cobalt(ii) complex have been synthesized and this pseudo macrocyclic Co(ii) complex has been converted to a full macrocycle by the replacement of the hydrogen atoms with BF2+ moieties which act as strong electron-withdrawing units to enhance the stability of the transition metal and to increase the solubility of the macrocycle in common organic solvents. After electrochemical polymerization, polycarbazole based cross-linked conductive metallopolymers with caged metal centers have been achieved. As a consequence of the optical and electrochemical characterization of the unique structure, the highest optical contrast value was obtained among the polycarbazole derivatives in the literature. Electrochemical polymerization and electrochemical properties of the conducting metallopolymer have also been investigated with EQCM studies. © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.