Rational design and creation of novel polymeric superstructures by oxidative polymerization utilizing anionic templates

Conjugate polymers assemble into novel superstructures when they are prepared by chemical or electrochemical oxidation of ethylenedioxythiophene, pyrrole or aniline in the presence of 'anionic' templates. The 'anionic' templates used are the [60]fullerene/anionic calix[8]arene complex, anionic porphyrin J-aggregate, anionic synthetic lipids, DNA, DNA/single-walled carbon nanotube complex, etc. Thus, dots, fibers, helical tapes, circles, etc. can be created from the assemblies of these conjugate polymers. We confirm that these conjugate polymers have a sufficient level of electroconductivity. In several systems, interesting redox properties were observed: when the [60]fullerene/conjugate polymer composite was deposited on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, a significant amount of photocurrent was generated. The composite including DNA acted as a DNA sensor. We thus believe that the present templating system is useful as a new method to rationally design and conveniently create novel polymeric superstructures having interesting photochemical and redox properties.