This paper reports the synthesis of D-A polymers containing 1,2-dithienylethene (DTE) units via palladium-catalyzed direct arylation polymerization (DArP). The reaction of dibromoisoindigo (1-Br) and DTE (2-H), in the presence of Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3 (0.5 mol%), P(2-MeOC6H4)3 (L1) (2 mol%), pivalic acid (1 equiv) as catalyst precursors, and Cs2CO3 (3 equiv) as a base affords poly(1-alt-2) with a high molecular weight (Mn up to 44,900). Although, it has been known that monomers, with plural C–H bonds, tend to form insoluble materials via direct arylation at undesirable C–H positions
the reaction of 1-Br and 2-H cleanly proceeds without insolubilization. The resulting polymer has a well-controlled structure and exhibits good charge transfer characteristics in an organic field-effect transistor (OFET), compared to the polymer produced by Migita–Kosugi–Stille cross-coupling polymerization. The DArP product displays an ideal linear relationship in the current–voltage curve, whereas the Migita–Kosugi–Stille product shows a VG-dependent change in the charge mobility.