Thiacalix[3]Triazine-centered regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) star: synthesis, structure and anion binding

The first synthesis of a well-defined star polymer consisting of three regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) ( rr -P3HT) arms emanating from an electron acceptor thiacalix[3]wtriazine core via direct arylation polymerization is described. Its structural characteristics as well as optical and thermal properties were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods. The UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy results evidenced the impact of the electron-withdrawing feature of the thiacalix[3]triazine core and the star structure on the optical behavior of the star-shaped material, as compared to the rr -P3HT linear analogue. The anion-binding property of the star-shaped P3HT resulting in fluorescence quenching was also studied. Graphical abstract A regioregular star P3HT with an electron acceptor thiacalix[3]triazine (T3A) core was prepared via firect arylation polymerization and characterized. The star structure is critical in P3HT arm aggregation and optical properties. The star P3HT with T3A core exhibited anion-binding property.