(I), wherein

R ¹ and R ¹ ' independently of each other are H or a substituent, halogen or SiR ⁶ R ⁴ R ⁵ ;

R ² and R ² ' may be the same or different and are selected from Ci-C25alkyl, C3- Ci2cycloalkyl, C2-C2salkenyl, C2-C2salkynyl, C ₄ -C2saryl, Cs-C25alkylaryl or Cs-C25aralkyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted, and if R ³ and R ^3' within the definition of X together ming to one of the

formulae , R ² and/or R ^2' may also be halogen or hydrogen;

X is a divalent linking group selected from

Y and Y' independently are selected from

n and p independently range from 0 to 6; R ³ and R ^3' independently are hydrogen or a substituent, or are amino, or together, with the carbon atoms they are attached to, complete a 5- or 6-membered unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon ring, or a 5-membered unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic ringcomprising at least one hetero atom selected from N, O, or S; as well as oligomers, e formula

The substances described in WO2010136401 are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.

WO201 1002927 relates to is directed to a (copolymer) composition comprising at least one donor acceptor copolymer, said at least one copolymer co first

bithiophene repeat unit (donor) represented by formula (I), wherein Ri, R2 and R' are solubilizing groups or hydrogen. According to claim 8 of WO2011002927 R ¹ and R ² may form a heterocyclic ring.

In addition, polymers comprising a bithiophene repeating unit are described in

EP2006291A1 , US20110006287 and WO2011025454.

PCT/EP2013/056463 relates to organic electronic devices comprising polymers or small molecules comprising at least one (repeating) unit of the formulas (I) and (II)

Schroeder B.C. et al., Chem. Mater., 23 (2011) 4025-4031 describe the use of polymers comprising monomers units of formula M1 and M2 in organic field effect transistors:

James R. Durrant et al., J. Phys. Chem.Lett. 2012, 3, 140-144 report on the contribution of photoinduced hole transfer to the device photocurrent for an OPV device with an active layer comprising a blend film of the small bandgap polymer

It is one object of the present invention to provide polymers, which show high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability, when used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.

Said object has been solved by polymers, comprising a repeating unit of the formula

(I), wherein

R ¹ and R ² are independently of each other H, F, Ci-Cisalkyl, Ci-Cisalkyl which is substituted by E' and/or interrupted by D', C6-C2 ₄ aryl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G'

R205, R206 _i R206 _i R207, 208 _i 208', 209 _anc | R2io _are independently of each other H, C ₁ -

Ciealkyl, Ci-Cisalkyl which is substituted by E' and/or interrupted by D', Ci-Cisalkoxy, or Ci-Ciealkoxy which is substituted by E' and/or interrupted by D', Ci-Cisfluoroalkyl, C6- C2 ₄ aryl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G', C2-C2oheteroaryl, C2-C2oheteroaryl which is substituted by G', C2-Cisalkenyl, C2-Cisalkynyl, C7-C2saralkyl, C7-C2saralkyl which is substituted by G'; CN, or -CO-R ²⁸ ,

R ⁶⁰¹ and R ⁶⁰² are independently of each other H, halogen, Ci-C2salkyl, C3-Ci2cycloalkyl, C2-C25alkenyl, C2-C2salkynyl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G', C7- C25aralkyl, or C7-C2saralkyl which is substituted by G';

D' is -CO-, -COO-, -S-, -SO-, -SO2-, -0-, -NR ⁶⁵ -, -SiR ⁷⁰ R ⁷¹ -, -POR ⁷² -, -CR ⁶³ =CR ⁶⁴ -, or - C≡C-, and

E' is -OR ⁶⁹ , -SR ⁶⁹ , -NR ⁶⁵ R ⁶⁶ , -COR ⁶⁸ , -COOR ⁶⁷ , -CONR ⁶⁵ R ⁶⁶ , -CN, CF ₃ , or halogen, G' is E', Ci-Ci8alkyl, or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -O-,

R ²⁸ is H; C6-Ci8aryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci- Ciealkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -0-,

R ⁶³ and R ⁶⁴ are independently of each other C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci-Cisalkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -O-;

R ⁶⁵ and R ⁶⁶ are independently of each other C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci-Cisalkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -O-; or R ⁶⁵ and R ⁶⁶ together form a five or six membered ring,

R ⁶⁷ is C6-Ciearyl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci- Ciealkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -0-,

R ⁶⁸ is H; C6-Ci8aryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci- Ciealkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -0-,

R ⁶⁹ is C6-Ciearyl; C6-Cisaryl, which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci- Ciealkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -0-,

R ⁷⁰ and R ⁷¹ are independently of each other Ci-Cisalkyl, C6-Cisaryl, or C6-Cisaryl, which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, and

R ⁷² is Ci-Cisalkyl, C6-Cisaryl, or C6-Cisaryl, which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl.

Advantageously, the polymer of the present invention, or an organic semiconductor material, layer or component, comprising the polymer of the present invention, can be used in organic light emitting diodes (PLEDs, OLEDs), organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes, or in an organic field effect transistor (OFET).

The polymers of this invention preferably have a weight average molecular weight of 4,000 Daltons or greater, especially 4,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons, more preferably 10,000 to 1 ,000,000 and most preferably 10,000 to 100,000 Daltons. Molecular weights are determined according to high-temperature gel permeation chromatography (HT-GPC) using polystyrene standards. The polymers of this invention preferably have a polydispersity of 1.01 to 10, more preferably 1.1 to 3.0, most preferred 1.5 to 2.5. The polymers of the present invention are preferably conjugated.

Oligomers of the present invention preferably have a weight average molecular weight below 4,000 Daltons.

In a preferred embodiment R ¹ and R ² form together a group

and R ²⁰⁸ are preferably H.

401

In another preferred embodiment R ¹ and R ² are a group of formula , or

, wherein R ⁴⁰⁰ , R ⁴⁰¹ , R ⁰² and R ⁴⁰³ are independently of each other H, CN, F, CF ₃ , Ci-Ci ₈ alkoxy; Ci-Ci ₈ alkyl; or Ci-Ci ₈ alkyl which is interrupted by -O-. R ⁴⁰⁰ , R ⁴⁰¹ , R ⁴⁰² and R ⁴⁰³ are preferably H. R ¹ and R ² may be different, but are preferably the same.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention is directed to polymers comprising a repeating unit of the formula

of each other a group of

, wherein R ⁴⁰⁰ , R ⁴⁰¹ , R ⁴⁰² , R ⁴⁰³ , R ⁴⁰⁴ and R ⁴⁰⁵ are independently of each other H, CN, F, CF3, Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci-Cisalkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by

-0-, or R ¹ and R ² form together a group . R ⁶⁰¹ and R ⁶⁰² may be the same or different and are selected from Ci-C2salkyl, or hydrogen; especially hydrogen. R ¹ and R ²

are especially a group of formula , very especially -O

Among the repeating units of formula I repeating units of formula

(la) are preferred.

The polymer may be a homopolymer of formula , wherein A is a repeating unit of formula (I), n is usually in the range of 4 to 1000, especially 4 to 200, very especially 5 to 150.

Alternatively, the polymer may be a polymer, comprising repeating units of the formula

-A- -COM ¹ -A- -COM ¹

and , especially , very

1

-A- -COM ¹

n

especially a copolymer of formula (III), wherein

n is usually in the range of 4 to 1000, especially 4 to 200, very especially 5 to 150.

A is a repeating unit of formula (I), and

-Ar- -Ar- -Ar- -Ar-

-COM ¹ - is a repeating unit , wherein

k is 0, 1 , 2, or 3; I is 1 , 2, or 3; r is 0, 1 , 2, or 3; z is 0, 1 , 2, or 3;

(Xli), (Xlk), 

I lie), (XI I Id), (XI Me), (XI I If), (Xlllk), and

(Xllll), or (XIV), such as, for example,

X ¹ is -0-, -S-, -NR ⁸ -, -Si(R )(R ^11' )-, -Ge(R )(R ^11' )-, -C(R ⁷ )(R ^7' )-, -C(=0)-, -C(=CR ⁰⁴ R ^104' )-,

( , and (XVuc), wherein

X ¹ ' is S, O, NR107-, -Si(Rii7)(Rii7). _i -Ge(R ⁷ )(R ¹¹⁷ ')-, -C(R ⁰⁶ )(R ¹⁰⁹ )-, -C(=0)-, -

C(=CR ⁰⁴ R ^104' )-

R ³ and R ^3' are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, halogenated Ci-C25alkyl, cyano, Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; C7-C2sarylalkyl, or Ci-C2salkoxy;

R ¹⁰⁴ and R ^104' are independently of each other hydrogen, cyano, COOR ¹⁰³ , a Ci-C2salkyl group, or C6-C2 ₄ aryl or C2-C2oheteroaryl,

R ⁴ , R ^4' , R ⁵ , R ^5' , R ⁶ , and R ^6' are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, halogenated Ci-C2salkyl, cyano, Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; C7-C2sarylalkyl, or Ci-C2salkoxy;

R ⁷ , R ^7' , R ⁹ and R ^9' are independently of each other hydrogen, Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one, or more oxygen, or sulphur atoms; or C7-C2sarylalkyl, R ⁸ and R ^8' are independently of each other hydrogen, C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; or Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; or C7-C2sarylalkyl,

R ¹¹ and R ^11' are independently of each other Ci-C2salkyl group, C7-C2sarylalkyl, or a phenyl group, which can be substituted one to three times with d-Csalkyl and/or d-Csalkoxy; R ¹² and R ^12' are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one, or more oxygen, or sulphur atoms, Ci-C2salkoxy,

C7-C25arylalkyl, or ^ , wherein R ¹³ is a Ci-Cioalkyl group, or a tri(Ci-C8alkyl)silyl group; or

R ¹⁰⁴ and R ^104' are independently of each other hydrogen, Ci-Cisalkyl, C6-Cioaryl, which may optionally be subtituted by G, or C2-Csheteroaryl, which may optionally be subtituted by G,

R105 R105' Rio6 _anc | Rio6 _are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Ci- C25alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; C7-C25arylalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy,

R ¹⁰⁷ is hydrogen, C7-C2sarylalkyl, C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci-Ci8perfluoroalkyl; Ci-C2salkyl; which may be interrupted by -O-, or -S-; or -COOR ¹⁰³ ;

R ¹⁰⁸ and R ¹⁰⁹ are independently of each other H, Ci-C ₂ 5alkyl, Ci-C ₂ 5alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C7-C2sarylalkyl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G, C2-C2oheteroaryl, C2-C2oheteroaryl which is substituted by G, C2- Ciealkenyl, C2-Cisalkynyl, Ci-Cisalkoxy, Ci-Cisalkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or C7-C2saralkyl, or

R ¹⁰⁸ and R ¹⁰⁹ together form a group of formula =CR ¹¹⁰ R ¹¹¹ , wherein

R ¹¹⁰ and R ¹¹¹ are independently of each other H, Ci-Cisalkyl, Ci-Cisalkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C6-C2 ₄ aryl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G, or C2-C2oheteroaryl, or C2-C2oheteroaryl which is substituted by G, or R ¹⁰⁸ and R ¹⁰⁹ together form a five or six membered ring, which optionally can be substituted by Ci-Ci8alkyl, Ci-Cisalkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C6-C2 ₄ aryl, C6- C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G, C2-C2oheteroaryl, C2-C2oheteroaryl which is substituted by G, C2-Ci8alkenyl, C2-Cisalkynyl, Ci-Cisalkoxy, Ci-Cisalkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or C7-C2saralkyl,

D is -CO-, -COO-, -S-, -0-, or -N Ri i2 ^' -,

E is d-Csthioalkoxy, Ci-C ₈ alkoxy, CN, -NRi^'Rus', -CONRi^'Rus', ₀ r halogen,

G is E, or Ci-Cisalkyl, and

R ^112' and R ^113' are independently of each other H; C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci-Cisalkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -0-,

R ¹¹⁵ and R ^115' are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one, or more oxygen, or sulphur atoms, Ci-

C25alkoxy, C7-C2sarylalkyl, or , wherein R ¹¹⁶ is a Ci-Cioalkyl group, or a tri(Ci- Cealkyl)silyl group;

R ¹¹⁷ and R ^117' are independently of each other Ci-C2salkyl group, C7-C2sarylalkyl, or a phenyl group, which can be substituted one to three times with d-Csalkyl and/or Ci- Cealkoxy;

R118 R119 R120 _anc | R121 _are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, halogenated Ci-C25alkyl, cyano, Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; C7-C2sarylalkyl, or Ci-C2salkoxy;

R ¹²² and R ^122' are independently of each other hydrogen, C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; or Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; or C7-C2sarylalkyl.

R ²⁰¹ is selected from hydrogen, a Ci-Ciooalkyl group, -COOR ¹⁰³ , a Ci-Ciooalkyl group substituted by one or more halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, nitro groups, -CN, or C6- Ciearyl groups and/or interrupted by -O-, -COO-, -OCO- or -S-; a C7-C2sarylalkyl group, a carbamoyl group, a C5-Ci2cycloalkyl group, which can be substituted one to three times with Ci-Ciooalkyl and/or Ci-Ciooalkoxy, a C6-C2 ₄ aryl group, in particular phenyl or 1- or 2 naphtyl which can be substituted one to three times with Ci-Ciooalkyl, Ci-Cioothioalkoxy, and/or Ci-Ciooalkoxy; and pentafluorophenyl;

R ¹⁰³ and R ¹¹⁴ are independently of each other Ci-C2salkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one, or more oxygen, or sulphur atoms,

R ²⁰² and R ²⁰³ may be the same or different and are selected from H, F, -CN, Ci-Ciooalkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen, or sulphur atoms; and Ci- C-iooalkoxy.

The above-mentioned repeating units COM ¹ are known and ean be prepared according to known procedures. With respect to DPP repeating units and their synthesis reference is, for example, made to US6451459B1 , WO05/049695, WO2008/000664, EP2034537A2,

EP2075274A1 , WO2010/049321 , WO2010/049323, WO2010/108873, WO2010/115767, WO2010/136353, WO2010/136352 and PCT/EP2011/057878.

R ³ , R ^3' , R ⁴ and R ^4' are preferably hydrogen, or Ci-C2salkyl. R ²⁰¹ is preferably a linear, or branched Ci-C36alkyl group, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3- pentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylpentyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylhexyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3,5,5- hexa methyl hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, 1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 1-methylheptyl, 3-methyl- heptyl, n-octyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, decyl, undecyl, especially n-dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, 2-ethyl-hexyl, 2-butyl-hexyl, 2-butyl- octyl, 2-hexyldecyl, 2-decyl-tetradecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl, docosyl, or tetracosyl.

Advantageously, the groups R ²⁰¹ can be represented by formula , wherein ml = n1 + 2 and ml + n1 < 24. Chiral side chains can either be homochiral, or racemic, which can influence the morphology of the compounds.

(XVu'"), wherein R3, R ^8' , R and R ^4' are independently of each other hydrogen, or Ci-C25alkyl;

R ⁸ and R ^8' are independently of each other hydrogen, or Ci-C25alkyl;

R ¹¹⁴ is a Ci-C ₃ 8alkyl group;

R ²⁰¹ is a Ci-C38alkyl group; and

R ²⁰² and R ^203' are independently of each other hydrogen or Ci-C2salkyl.

In a particularly preferred embodiment COM ¹ is selected from repeating units of formula (XVb), (XVb'), (XVe), (XVh), (XVh'), (XVu'), (XVu"), and (XVu'"), especially (XVb), (XVb'), (XVu'), (XVu"), and (XVu'").

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the polymer is a copolymer, comprising

-A- -COM ¹

repeating units of formula , especially a copolymer of formula

1

-A- -COM ¹

n

(III), wherein A and COM ¹ are as defined above; n is a number which results in a molecular weight of 4,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons, more preferably 10,000 to 1 ,000,000 and most preferably 10,000 to 100,000 Daltons. n is usually in the range of 4 to 1000, especially 4 to 200, very especially 5 to 150. The polymer structure represented by formula III is an idealized representation of the polymer products obtained, for example, via the Suzuki polymerization procedure. The repeating unit of formula

(I) can be incorporated into the polymer chain in two ways: and Both possibilities shall be covered

The polymers of the present invention can comprise more than 2 different repeating units, such as, for example, repeating units A, COM ¹ and B, which are different from each other. In said embodiment the polymer is a copolymer, comprising repeating units of formula

, wherein x = 0.995 to 0.005, y = 0.005 to 0.995, especially x = 0.2 to 0.8, y = 0.8 to 0.2, and x + y = 1. B has the meaning of COM ¹ , with the proviso that B is different from COM ¹ . A and COM ¹ are as defined above.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention A is a repeating unit of formula

'-r-COM ¹

(I), especially (la), as defined above, and is a group of formula

wherein R ³ , R ^3' , R ⁴ and R ^4' are independently of each other hydrogen or Ci-C25alkyl; R ⁸ and R ^8' are independently of each other hydrogen or Ci-C2salkyl; and

R ²⁰¹ is a Ci-Cssalkyl group.

COIvn is preferably a repeating unit of formula (XVb'), (XVb'), (XVu') and (XVu"). Among the repeating units of formula (I) repeating units of formula (I) are preferred,

same. R ⁶⁰¹ and R ⁶⁰² may be the different, but are preferably the same and are selected from hydrogen, or Ci-C2salkyl, especially hydrogen. Most preferred are repeating units of formula (la).

Among the copolymers of formula III the following copolymers are preferred:

(Ia10), wherein

n is 4 to 1000, especially 4 to 200, very especially 5 to 150;

R ³ , R ^3' , R ⁴ and R ⁴ ' are independently of each other hydrogen or Ci-C2 ₅ alkyl;

R ²⁰¹ is a Ci-Cssalkyl group, and

R ⁶⁰¹ and R ⁶⁰² are independently of each other hydrogen, or Ci-C2salkyl; especially hydrogen. Polymers of formula (Ia1 ), (Ia2), (Ia6) and (Ia7) are more preferred. elow:

Copolymers of formula III can be obtained, for example, by the Suzuki reaction. The condensation reaction of an aromatic boronate and a halogenide, especially a bromide, commonly referred to as the "Suzuki reaction", is tolerant of the presence of a variety of organic functional groups as reported by N. Miyaura and A. Suzuki in Chemical Reviews, Vol. 95, pp. 457-2483 (1995). Preferred catalysts are 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-di- alkoxybiphenyl/palladium(ll)acetates, tri-alykl-phosphonium salts/palladium (0) derivatives and tri-alkylphosphine/palladium (0) derivatives. Especially preferred catalysts are 2- dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-di-methoxybiphenyl (sPhos)/palladium(ll)acetate and, tri-tert- butylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate ((t-Bu)3P * HBF4)/tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium (0) (Pd2(dba)3) and tri-tert-butylphosphine (t-Bu)3P/tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium (0) (Pd2(dba)3). This reaction can be applied to preparing high molecular weight polymers and copolymers.

X ¹⁰ —-A y10

To prepare polymers corresponding to formula Ili a dihalogenide of formula

is reacted with an (equimolar) amount of a diboronic acid or diboronate corresponding to

11 10 10

X -COM ¹ - X X -COM ^L X

formula ; or a dihalogenide of formula is reacted with an (equimolar) amount of a diboronic acid or diboronate corresponding to formula

X ¹¹ — A y11

, wherein X ¹⁰ is halogen, especially Br, and X ¹¹ is independently in each γ13

occurrence -B(OH) ₂ , -B(OY ¹ ) ₂ , - °:0 ^Y , or , wherein Y is independently in each occurrence a Ci-Cioalkyl group and Y ² is independently in each occurrence a C ₂ -Ci ₀ alkylene group, such as -CY ³ Y ⁴ -CY ⁵ Y ⁶ -, or -CY ⁷ Y ³ -CY ⁹ Y ¹⁰ - CY Y ¹² -, wherein Y ³ , Y ⁴ , Ys, γ ^β , γτ _ι γ ^β _ γ9 γιο_ γιι and Y ¹² are independently of each other hydrogen, or a Ci-Ci ₀ alkyl group, especially -C(CH ₃ )2C(CH ₃ )2-, -CH ₂ C(CH ₃ )2CH ₂ -, or -C(CH ₃ )2CH ₂ C(CH ₃ )2-, and Y ¹³ and Y ¹⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, or a Ci-Cioalkyl group, under the catalytic action of Pd and triphenylphosphine. The reaction is typically conducted at about 0 °C to 180 °C in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent such as toluene, xylene. Other solvents such as dimethylformamide, dioxane, dimethoxyethan and tetrahydrofuran can also be used alone, or in mixtures with an aromatic hydrocarbon. An aqueous base, preferably sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, potassium carbonate or bicarbonate is used as activation agent for the boronic acid, boronate and as the HBr scavenger. A polymerization reaction may take 0.2 to 100 hours. Organic bases, such as, for example, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, and phase transfer catalysts, such as, for example TBAB, can promote the activity of the boron (see, for example, Leadbeater & Marco; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng. 42 (2003) 1407 and references cited therein). Other variations of reaction conditions are given by T. I. Wallow and B. M. Novak in J. Org. Chem. 59 (1994) 5034-5037; and M. Remmers, M. Schulze, and G. Wegner in Macromol. Rapid Commun. 17 (1996) 239-252. Contrail of molecular weight is possible by using either an excess of dibromide, diboronic acid, or diboronate, or a chain terminator.

According to the process described in WO2010/136352 the polymerisation is carried out in presence of

a) a catalyst/ligand system comprising a palladium catalyst and an organic phosphine or phosphonium compound,

b) a base, c) a solvent or a mixture of solvents, characterized in that

is a trisubstituted phosphine of formula

(VI), or phosphonium salt thereof, wherein X" independently of Y" represents a nitrogen atom or a C-R ^2" group and Y" independently of X" represents a nitrogen atom or a C-R ^9" group, R ^1" for each of the two R ^1" groups independently of the other represents a radical selected from the group Ci-C24-alkyl, C3-C2o-cycloalkyl, which includes especially both monocyclic and also bi-and tri-cyclic cycloalkyl radicals, C5-C14- aryl, which includes especially the phenyl, naphthyl, fluorenyl radical, C2-Ci3-heteroaryl, wherein the number of hetero atoms, selected from the group N, O, S, may be from 1 to 2, wherein the two radicals R ^1" may also be linked to one another,

and wherein the above-mentioned radicals R ^1" may themselves each be mono-or poly- substituted independently of one another by substituents selected from the group hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C2o-alkenyl, Cs-Cs-cycloalkyl, C2-Cg-hetero-alkyl, Cs-C-io-aryl, C2- Cg-heteroaryl, wherein the number of hetero atoms from the group N, O, S may be from 1 to 4, Ci-C2o-alkoxy, Ci-Cio-haloalkyl, hydroxy, amino of the forms NH-(Ci-C2o-alkyl), NH- (Cs-do-aryl), N(Ci-C ₂ o-alkyl) ₂ , N(Ci-C ₂₀ -alkyl) (C ₅ -Cio-aryl), N(C ₅ -Cio-aryl) ₂ , N(Ci-C ₂₀ - alkyl/C ₅ -Cio-aryl ₃ )3 ⁺ , NH-CO-Ci-C ₂ o-alkyl, NH-CO- Cs-do-aryl, carboxylato of the forms COOH and COOQ (wherein Q represents either a monovalent cation or d-Cs-alkyl), C1-C6- acyloxy, sulfinato, sulfonato of the forms SO3H and SO3Q' (wherein Q' represents either a monovalent cation, Ci-C2o-alkyl, or Cs-C-io-aryl), tri-Ci-C6-alkylsilyl, wherein two of the mentioned substituents may also be bridged with one another, R ^{2 '} -R ^9" represent a hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aromatic or heteroaromatic aryl, O-alkyl, NH- alkyl, N- (alkyl) ₂ , O-(aryl), NH-(aryl), N-(alkyl)(aryl), O-CO-alkyl, O-CO-aryl, F, Si(alkyl) ₃ , CF ₃ , CN, CO2H , COH, SO3H, CON H2, CONH(alkyl), CON(alkyl) ₂ , S0 ₂ (alkyl), SO(alkyl), SO(aryl), S0 ₂ (aryl), SOs(alkyl), S0 ₃ (aryl), S-alkyl, S-aryl, NH-CO(alkyl), C0 ₂ (alkyl), CONH ₂ , CO(alkyl), NHCOH, NHC0 ₂ (alkyl), CO(aryl), C0 ₂ (aryl) radical, wherein two or more adjacent radicals, each independently of the other (s), may also be linked to one another so that a condensed ring system is present and wherein in R ^2" to R ^9" alkyl represents a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may in each case be linear or branched, alkenyl represents a mono-or poly- unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may in each case be linear or branched, cycloalkyl represents a hydrocarbon having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl represents a 5- to 14-membered aromatic radical, wherein from one to four carbon atoms in the aryl radical may also be replaced by hetero atoms from the group nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur so that a 5- to 14- membered heteroaromatic radical is present, wherein the radicals R ^2" to R ^9" may also carry further substituents as defined for R ^1" .

The organic phosphines and their synthesis are described in WO2004101581 Preferred organic phosphines are selected from trisubstituted phosphines of formula

¹⁾ R ^5" and R ^6" together form 2) R ^3" and R ^4" together form

Examples of preferred catalysts include the following compounds:

palladium(ll) acetylacetonate, palladium(O) dibenzylidene-acetone complexes, palladium(ll) propionate,

Pd2(dba)3: [tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium(O)],

Pd(dba)2: [bis(dibenzylideneacetone) palladium(O)],

Pd(PR3)2, wherein PR3 is a trisubstituted phosphine of formula VI,

Pd(OAc)2: [palladium(ll) acetate], palladium(ll) chloride, palladium(ll) bromide, lithium tetrachloropalladate(ll),

PdCl2(PR3)2; wherein PR3 is a trisubstituted phosphine of formula VI; palladium(O) diallyl ether complexes, palladium(ll) nitrate,

PdCI ₂ (PhCN) ₂ : [dichlorobis(benzonitrile) palladium(ll)],

PdCI ₂ (CH ₃ CN): [dichlorobis(acetonitrile) palladium(ll)], and

PdCI ₂ (COD): [dichloro(1 ,5-cyclooctadiene) palladium(ll)]. Especially preferred are PdCI ₂ , Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ , Pd(dba) ₂ , Pd(OAc) ₂ , or Pd(PR ₃ ) ₂ . Most preferred are Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ and Pd(OAc) ₂ .

The palladium catalyst is present in the reaction mixture in catalytic amounts. The term "catalytic amount" refers to an amount that is clearly below one equivalent of the

(hetero)aromatic compound(s), preferably 0.001 to 5 mol-%, most preferably 0.001 to 1 mol-%, based on the equivalents of the (hetero)aromatic compound(s) used.

The amount of phosphines or phosphonium salts in the reaction mixture is preferably from 0.001 to 10 mol-%, most preferably 0.01 to 5 mol-%, based on the equivalents of the (hetero)aromatic compound(s) used. The preferred ratio of Pd:phosphine is 1 :4.

The base can be selected from all aqueous and nonaqueous bases and can be inorganic, or organic. It is preferable that at least 1.5 equivalents of said base per functional boron group is present in the reaction mixture. Suitable bases are, for example, alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carboxylates, carbonates, fluorides and phosphates such as sodium and potassium hydroxide, acetate, carbonate, fluoride and phosphate or also metal alcoholates. It is also possible to use a mixture of bases. The base is preferably a lithium salt, such as, for example, lithium alkoxides (such as, for example, lithium methoxide and lithium ethoxide), lithium hydroxide, carboxylate, carbonate, fluoride and/or phosphate.

The at present most preferred base is aqueous LiOHxH ₂ 0 (monohydrate of LiOH) and (waterfree) LiOH. The reaction is typically conducted at about 0 °C to 180 °C, preferably from 20 to 160°C, more preferably from 40 to 140°C and most preferably from 40 to 120°C. A polymerization reaction may take 0.1 , especially 0.2 to 100 hours.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the solvent is tetrahydrofuran (THF), the base is LiOH ^* H ₂ 0 and the reaction is conducted at reflux temperature of THF (about 65 °C).

The solvent is for example selected from toluene, xylenes, anisole, THF, 2- methyltetrahydrofuran, dioxane, chlorobenzene, fluorobenzene or solvent mixtures comprising one or more solvents like e.g. THF/toluene and optionally water. Most preferred is THF, or THF/water.

Advantageously, the polymerisation is carried out in presence of

a) palladium(ll) acetate, or Pd ₂ (dba) ₃ , (tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(O)) and an organic phosphine A-1 to A-13,

b) LiOH, or LiOHxH ₂ 0; and

c) THF, and optionally water. If the monohydrate of LiOH is used, no water needs to be added. The palladium catalyst is present in an amount of preferably about 0.5 mol-%, based on the equivalents of the (hetero)aromatic compound(s) used. The amount of phosphines or phosphonium salts in the reaction mixture is preferably about 2 mol-%, based on the equivalents of the (hetero)aromatic compound(s) used. The preferred ratio of Pd:phosphine is about 1 :4.

Preferably the polymerization reaction is conducted under inert conditions in the absence of oxygen. Nitrogen and more preferably argon are used as inert gases.

The process described in WO2010/136352 is suitable for large-scale applications, is readily accessible and convert starting materials to the respective polymers in high yield, with high purity and high selectivity. The process can provide polymers having weight average molecular weights of at least 10,000, more preferably at least 20,000, most preferably at least 30,000. The at present most preferred polymers have a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 to 80,000 Daltons. Molecular weights are determined according to high- temperature gel permeation chromatography (HT-GPC) using polystyrene standards. The polymers preferably have a polydispersibility of 1.01 to 10, more preferably 1.1 to 3.0, most preferred 1.5 to 2.5.

I

such reactions, which will result in the formation of a terminal aryl group.

It is possible to control the sequencing of the monomeric units in the resulting copolymer by controlling the order and composition of monomer feeds in the Suzuki reaction. The polymers of the present invention can also be sythesized by the Stille coupling (see, for example, Babudri et al, J. Mater. Chem., 2004, 14, 11-34; J. K. Stille, Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. Engl. 1986, 25, 508). To prepare polymers corresponding to formula III a

X ¹⁰ —-A y10

dihalogenide of formula is reacted with a compound of formula

1 1 ' Ί 11 ¹ Ί 0 1 10

X — COM -X _{or a} dihalogenide of formula ^{x C0M x} is reacted with a compound of formula ^Λ , wherein X ¹¹ ' is a group -SnR ⁰⁷ R ²⁰⁸ R209 _anc | χιο j _{s as} defined above, in an inert solvent at a temperature in range from 0°C to 200°C in the presence of a palladium-containing catalyst, wherein R ²⁰⁷ , R ²⁰⁸ and R ²⁰⁹ are identical or different and are H or Ci-C6alkyl, wherein two radicals optionally form a common ring and these radicals are optionally branched or unbranched. It must be ensured here that the totality of all monomers used has a highly balanced ratio of organotin functions to halogen functions. In addition, it may prove advantageous to remove any excess reactive groups at the end of the reaction by end-capping with monofunctional reagents. In order to carry out the process, the tin compounds and the halogen compounds are preferably introduced into one or more inert organic solvents and stirred at a temperature of from 0 to 200°C, preferably from 30 to 170°C for a period of from 1 hour to 200 hours, preferably from 5 hours to 150 hours. The crude product can be purified by methods known to the person skilled in the art and appropriate for the respective polymer, for example repeated re- precipitation or even by dialysis.

Suitable organic solvents for the process described are, for example, ethers, for example diethyl ether, dimethoxyethane, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dioxolane, diisopropyl ether and tert-butyl methyl ether, hydrocarbons, for example hexane, isohexane, heptane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene and xylene, alcohols, for example methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethylene glycol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol and tert- butanol, ketones, for example acetone, ethyl methyl ketone and isobutyl methyl ketone, amides, for example dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide and N- methylpyrrolidone, nitriles, for example acetonitrile, propionitrile and butyronitrile, and mixtures thereof.

The palladium and phosphine components should be selected analogously to the description for the Suzuki variant.

Alternatively, the polymers of the present invention can also be synthesized by the Negishi reaction using a zinc reagent A-(ZnX ¹² )2, wherein X ¹² is halogen and halides, and COM ¹ - (X ³ ) ₂ , wherein X ²³ is halogen or triflate, or using A-(X ³ ) ₂ and COM -(ZnX ³ ) ₂ . Reference is, for example, made to E. Negishi et al., Heterocycles 18 (1982) 1 17-22.

Alternatively, the polymers of the present invention can also be synthesized by the Hiyama reaction using a organosilicon reagent A-(SiR ²¹⁰ R ²¹¹ R ^{2 2} ) ₂ , wherein R ²¹⁰ , R ²¹¹ and R ^{2 2} are identical or different and are halogen, or Ci-C6alkyl, and COM ¹ -(X ²³ ) ₂ , wherein X ²³ is halogen or triflate, or using A-(X ²³ ) ₂ and COM -(SiR ²¹⁰ R ²¹¹ R ²¹² ) ₂ . Reference is, for example, made to T. Hiyama et al., Pure Appl. Chem. 66 (1994) 1471-1478 and T. Hiyama et al., Synlett (1991) 845-853. Homopolymers of the type (A) _n can be obtained via Yamamoto coupling of dihalides

X ¹⁰ —-A y10

, where X ¹⁰ is halogen, preferably Br. Alternatively homopolymers of the type

X ¹⁰ —-A y10

(A)n can be obtained via oxidative polymerization of units , where X ¹⁰ is hydrogen, e.g. with FeC as oxidizing agent.

A possible synthesis route for monomers useful in the preparation of polymers, comprising repeating units of formula (I), wherein R ¹ and R ² are the same and are an optionally substituted C6-C2 ₄ aryl, or C2-C2oheteroaryl group; is shown below:

Compounds of formula (XVII) can be obtained by reacting compounds of formula (XX) with 1 ,4-dimethyl-piperazine-2,3-dione in the presence of butyl lithium in an appropriate solvent: (XVII)

Compounds of formula (XVIII) can be obtained by reacting compounds of formula (XVII) w

(XVM) (XVIM)

I diates for repeating units of formula (I), wherein R ¹ and R ² form together a group

, can be obtained by reacting compounds of formula (XVIII) with cyclohex-2-en-1 one in the presence of TiCU in dichloromethane at elevated temperatures.

Reference is, for example, made to WO2009115413.

The compounds of formula (VIII) and (IX) can be prepared by using the above described intermediates and the synthesis methods described, for example, in WO2012175530 and WO2010/1 15767.

The compounds of the formula

intermediates in the production of polymers, are new and form a further subject of the present invention. A ^1' and A ^2' are independently of each other a group of formula

, wherein X ² and X ^2' are independently of each other halogen, ZnX ² , -SnR ⁰⁷ R ⁰⁸ R ²⁰⁹ , wherein R ²⁰⁷ , R ²⁰⁸ and R ²⁰⁹ are identical or different and are H or Ci-C6alkyl, wherein two radicals optionally form a common ring and these radicals are optionally branched or unbranched and X ¹² is a halogen atom; or -OS(0)2CF3, -OS(0)2- aryl, -OS(0) ₂ CH ₃ , -B(OH) ₂ , -B(OY ) ₂ ,

wherein Y ¹ is independently in each occurrence a Ci-Cioalkyl group and Y ² is

independently in each occurrence a C2-Cioalkylene group, such as -CY ³ Y ⁴ -CY ⁵ Y ⁶ -, or - CY Y8.CY9Y10- CY11Y12-, wherein Y ³ , Y ⁴ , Ys, γ ^β , γ/, γ ^β _ γθ γιο. γιι and Y^ are

independently of each other hydrogen, or a Ci-Cioalkyl group,

especially -C(CH ₃ )2C(CH ₃ )2-, -C(CH3)2CH ₂ C(CH ₃ )2-, or -CH ₂ C(CH ₃ )2CH ₂ -; and Y ¹³ and Y ¹⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, or a Ci-Cioalkyl group, a, b, c, p, q, Ar ¹ , Ar ² , Ar ³ , Y, Y15, γΐ6, γΐ7 A ³ , A ⁴ , As and A are as defined above.

The compounds of the formula (IV), or (V) can be used in the production of polymers, comprising repeating unit(s) of formula

.A!_Y A _Y!L -A _Y 1:6 ^' A ⁵ _Y!I -A 2.'

D q

(Xa), or

_A ¹ _A ³ — Y _A1 Y— A - -YIZA ⁵ :

q

(Xb) wherein

1 ^' and A ^2' are independentl each other a group of formula Ar ² , Ar ³ , Y, Yis, γι ^β , γι ^/ _ A ³ ,

A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ^5' are as defined above.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. The Ci-Ciooalkyl group is preferably a Ci-C ₃ salkyl group, especially a Ci-C2salkyl group. Reference is made to the definition of R ²⁰¹ .

Ci-C25alkyl (Ci-Ciealkyl) is typically linear or branched, where possible. Examples are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylpentyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylhexyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3,5,5- hexa methyl hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 1-methylheptyl, 3-methyl- heptyl, n-octyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl, docosyl, tetracosyl or pentacosyl. Ci-Csalkyl is typically methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-propyl, n- hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl. Ci-C ₄ alkyl is typically methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl.

C2-C25alkenyl (C2-Cisalkenyl) groups are straight-chain or branched alkenyl groups, such as e.g. vinyl, allyl, methallyl, isopropenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, isobutenyl, n-penta-2,4- dienyl, 3-methyl-but-2-enyl, n-oct-2-enyl, n-dodec-2-enyl, isododecenyl, n-dodec-2-enyl or n-octadec-4-enyl. C2-25alkynyl (C2-isalkynyl) is straight-chain or branched and preferably C2-salkynyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, such as, for example, ethynyl, 1-propyn-3-yl, 1-butyn- 4-yl, 1-pentyn-5-yl, 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-yl, 1 ,4-pentadiyn-3-yl, 1 ,3-pentadiyn-5-yl, 1-hexyn-6- yl, cis-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-yl, trans-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-yl, 1 ,3-hexadiyn-5-yl, 1-octyn-8-yl, 1-nonyn-9-yl, 1-decyn-10-yl, or 1-tetracosyn-24-yl.

A halogenated Ci-C2salkyl group is a branched or unbranched radical, wherein all, or part of the hydrogen atoms of the corresponding alkyl group have been replaced by halogen atoms.

Aliphatic groups can, in contrast to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, be substituted by any acyclic substituents, but are preferably unsubstituted. Preferred substituents are d-Csalkoxy or d-Csalkylthio groups as exemplified further below. The term "aliphatic group" comprises also alkyl groups wherein certain non-adjacent carbon atoms are replaced by oxygen, like -CH2-O-CH2-CH2-O-CH3. The latter group can be regarded as methyl substituted by -O-CH2-CH2-O-CH3.

An aliphatic hydrocarbon group having up to 25 carbon atoms is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl (also spelled alkinyl) group having up to 25 carbon atoms as exemplified above.

Alkylene is bivalent alkyl, i.e. alkyl having two (instead of one) free valencies, e.g.

trimethylene or tetramethylene.

Alkenylene is bivalent alkenyl, i.e. alkenyl having two (instead of one) free valencies, e.g. -CH ₂ -CH=CH-CH ₂ -.

Aliphatic groups can, in contrast to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, be substituted by any acyclic substituents, but are preferably unsubstituted. Preferred substituents are d-Csalkoxy or d-Csalkylthio groups as exemplified further below. The term "aliphatic group" comprises also alkyl groups wherein certain non-adjacent carbon atoms are replaced by oxygen, like -CH2-O-CH2-CH2-O-CH3. The latter group can be regarded as methyl substituted by -O-CH2-CH2-O-CH3.

A cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon group is a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group which may be substituted by one or more aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups.

A cycloaliphatic-aliphatic group is an aliphatic group substituted by a cycloaliphatic group, wherein the terms "cycloaliphatic" and "aliphatic" have the meanings given herein and wherein the free valency extends from the aliphatic moiety. Hence, a cycloaliphatic- aliphatic group is for example a cycloalkyl-alkyl group.

A cycloalkyl-alkyl group is an alkyl group substituted by a cycloalkyl group, e.g.

cyclohexyl-methyl. A "cycloalkenyl group" means an unsaturated alicyclic hydrocarbon group containing one or more double bonds, such as cyclopentenyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexenyl and the like, which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups and/or condensed with phenyl groups.

A bivalent group of the formula IVb wherein R ²⁸ and R ²⁷ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms, is e.g. a group of the formula wherein A ²⁰ represents linear or branched alkylene having up to 25 carbon atoms, preferably ethylene or propylene which may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups, and Y ²⁰ represents oxygen or sulphur. For example, the bivalent group of the formula -Y ²⁰ - A20-O- represents -0-CH ₂ -CH ₂ -0- or -0-CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -0- .

A group of the formula IVa wherein two groups R ²² to R ²⁶ which are in the neighborhood of each other, together represent alkylene or alkenylene having up to 8 carbon atoms, thereby of the formula

(XXXII), or (XXXIII), wherein in the group of the formula XXXII R ²³ and

R ²⁴ together represent 1 ,4-butylene and in the group of the formula XXXIII R ²³ and R ²⁴ together represent 1 ,4-but-2-en-ylene.

The Ci-Ciooalkoxy group is preferably a Ci-C3salkoxy group, especially a Ci-C ₂ salkoxy group. Ci-C ₂ 5alkoxy groups (d-dsalkoxy groups) are straight-chain or branched alkoxy groups, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, amyloxy, isoamyloxy or tert-amyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, isooctyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, undecyloxy, dodecyloxy, tetradecyloxy, pentadecyloxy, hexadecyloxy, heptadecyloxy and octadecyloxy. Examples of d-Csalkoxy are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec.-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy, n-pentoxy, 2-pentoxy, 3-pentoxy, 2,2- dimethylpropoxy, n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy, 1 , 1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutoxy and 2- ethylhexoxy, preferably Ci-C4alkoxy such as typically methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec.-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy. The term "alkylthio group" means the same groups as the alkoxy groups, except that the oxygen atom of the ether linkage is replaced by a sulfur atom.

Ci-Ci8fluoroalkyl, especially Ci-C4fluoroalkyl, is a branched or unbranched radical, wherein all, or part of the hydrogen atoms of the corresponding alkyl group have been replaced by fluorine atoms, such as for example -CF ₃ , -CF ₂ CF ₃ , -CF ₂ CF ₂ CF ₃ , -CF(CF ₃ ) ₂ , -(CF ₂ ) ₃ CF ₃ , and -C(CF ₃ ) ₃ .

The term "carbamoyl group" is typically a Ci-i8carbamoyl radical, preferably d-scarbamoyl radical, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, such as, for example, carbamoyl, methylcarbamoyl, ethylcarbamoyl, n-butylcarbamoyl, tert-butylcarbamoyl,

dimethylcarbamoyloxy, morpholinocarbamoyl or pyrrolidinocarbamoyl.

A cycloalkyl group is typically C4-Ci8cycloalkyl, such as, for example, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, cycloundecyl, cyclododecyl, preferably cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. The cycloalkyl group, in particular a cyclohexyl group, can be condensed one or two times by phenyl which can be substituted one to three times with Ci-C4-alkyl, halogen and cyano. Examples of such condensed

cyclohexyl groups are or

wherein Risi R152 R153 RIS4

R ¹⁵⁵ and R ¹⁵⁶ are independently of each other Ci-Cs-alkyl, Ci-Cs-alkoxy, halogen and cyano, in particular hydrogen.

C6-C ₂ 4aryl (C6-Cisaryl) is typically phenyl, indenyl, azulenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, as- indacenyl, s-indacenyl, acenaphthylenyl, fluorenyl, phenanthryl, fluoranthenyl, triphenlenyl, chrysenyl, naphthacen, picenyl, perylenyl, pentaphenyl, hexacenyl, pyrenyl, or anthracenyl, preferably phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 4-biphenyl, 9-phenanthryl, 2- or 9-fluorenyl, 3- or 4-biphenyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. Examples of C6-Ci ₂ aryl are phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 3- or 4-biphenyl, 2- or 9-fluorenyl or 9-phenanthryl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted.

C7-C ₂ 5aralkyl is typically benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, co-phenyl-butyl, ro, co-dimethyl-co-phenyl-butyl, o-phenyl-dodecyl, co-phenyl-octadecyl, co-phenyl-eicosyl or co-phenyl-docosyl, preferably Cz-Cisaralkyl such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2- propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, co-phenyl-butyl, ω, ω-dimethyl-co-phenyl-butyl, co-phenyl-dodecyl or co-phenyl-octadecyl, and particularly preferred C7-Ci ₂ aralkyl such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, co-phenyl-butyl, or ω,ω-dimethyl-co-phenyl-butyl, in which both the aliphatic hydrocarbon group and aromatic hydrocarbon group may be unsubstituted or substituted. Preferred examples are benzyl, 2- phenylethyl, 3-phenylpropyl, naphthylethyl, naphthylmethyl, and cumyl. Heteroaryl is typically C2-C2oheteroaryl, i.e. a ring with five to seven ring atoms or a condensed ring system, wherein nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur are the possible hetero atoms, and is typically an unsaturated heterocyclic group with five to 30 atoms having at least six conjugated π-electrons such as thienyl, benzo[b]thienyl, dibenzo[b,d]thienyl, thianthrenyl, furyl, furfuryl, 2H-pyranyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, dibenzofuranyl, phenoxythienyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, bipyridyl, triazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, quinolizinyl, chinolyl, isochinolyl,

phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, chinoxalinyl, chinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, carbolinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzoxazolyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, pyrimidinyl,

phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, isothiazolyl, phenothiazinyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl or

phenoxazinyl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted.

Possible substituents of the above-mentioned groups are d-Csalkyl, a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, d-Csalkoxy, d-Csalkylthio, halogen, halo-d-Csalkyl, a cyano group, a carbamoyl group, a nitro group or a silyl group, especially d-Csalkyl, d-Csalkoxy, d- Cealkylthio, halogen, halo-d-Csalkyl, or a cyano group. d-C25alkyl (d-dsalkyl) interrupted by one or more O is, for example, (CH2CH20)i-9-R ^x , where R* is H or d-doalkyl, CH2-CH(ORy')-CH ₂ -0-Ry, where Ry is d-dsalkyl, and Ry' embraces the same definitions as Ry or is H.

If a substituent, such as, for example R ³ , occurs more than one time in a group, it can be different in each occurrence.

The present invention also relates to the use of the polymers, or compounds in an organic, electronic device.

The organic, electronic device is ,for example, an organic electroluminescent device

(OLED), a polymeric electroluminescent device (PLED), an organic integrated circuit (0--IC), an organic field-effect transistor (O-FET), an organic thin-film transistor (O-TFT), an organic light-emitting transistor (O-LET), an organic solar cell (O-SC), an organic optical detector, an organic photoreceptor, an organic field-quench device (O-FQD), a light-emitting

electrochemical cell (LEC), or an organic laser diode (O-laser).

For the purposes of the present invention, it is preferred for the polymer, or compound according to the invention to be in the form of a layer (or to be present in a layer) in the electronic device. The polymer, or compound according to the invention can be present in the form of a hole-transport, hole-injection, emitter, electron-transport, electron-injection, charge-blocking and/or charge-generation layer. The polymers, or compounds according to the invention may be, for example, employed as emitting compounds in an emitting layer. It may additionally be preferred to use the polymer not as the pure substance, but instead as a mixture (blend) together with further polymeric, oligomeric, dendritic or low-molecular- weight substances of any desired type. These may, for example, improve the electronic properties.

A mixture containing a polymer of the present invention results in a semi-conducting layer comprising a polymer of the present invention (typically 5% to 99.9999% by weight, especially 20 to 85 % by weight) and at least another material. The other material can be, but is not restricted to a fraction of the same polymer of the present invention with different molecular weight, another polymer of the present invention, a semi-conducting polymer, organic small molecules, carbon nanotubes, a fullerene derivative, inorganic particles (quantum dots, quantum rods, quantum tripods, T1O2, ZnO etc.), conductive particles (Au, Ag etc.), insulator materials like the ones described for the gate dielectric (PET, PS etc.). The polymers of the present invention can be blended with compounds of formula VIII, or IX according to the present invention, or small molecules described, for example, in WO2009/047104, WO2010108873, WO09/047104, US6,690,029, WO2007082584, and WO2008107089:

WO2007082584:



X ^* is -0-, -S-, -Se- or -NR'"-,

R ^* is cyclic, straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 20 C-atoms, or aryl having 2-30 C-atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated or perfluorinated,

R' is H, F, CI, Br, I, CN, straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 20 C-atoms and optionally being fluorinated or perfluorinated, optionally fluorinated or perfluorinated aryl having 6 to 30 C-atoms, or CO2R", with R" being H, optionally fluorinated alkyl having 1 to 20 C-atoms, or optionally fluorinated aryl having 2 to 30 C-atoms,

R'" is H or cyclic, straight-chain or branched alkyl with 1 to 10 C-atoms, y is 0, or 1 , x is 0, or 1.

The polymer can contain a small molecule, or a mixture of two, or more small molecule compounds.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to an organic semiconductor material, layer or component, comprising a polymer according to the present invention.

The polymers of the invention can be used as the semiconductor layer in semiconductor devices. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to semiconductor devices, comprising a polymer of the present invention, or an organic semiconductor material, layer or component. The semiconductor device is especially an organic photovoltaic (PV) device (solar cell), a photodiode, or an organic field effect transistor. The polymers of the invention can be used alone or in combination as the organic semiconductor layer of the semiconductor device. The layer can be provided by any useful means, such as, for example, vapor deposition (for materials with relatively low molecular weight) and printing techniques. The compounds of the invention may be sufficiently soluble in organic solvents and can be solution deposited and patterned (for example, by spin coating, dip coating, ink jet printing, gravure printing, flexo printing, offset printing, screen printing, microcontact (wave)-printing, drop or zone casting, or other known techniques). The polymers of the invention can be used in integrated circuits comprising a plurality of OTFTs, as well as in various electronic articles. Such articles include, for example, radio- frequency identification (RFID) tags, backplanes for flexible displays (for use in, for example, personal computers, cell phones, or handheld devices), smart cards, memory devices, sensors (e.g. light-, image-, bio-, chemo-, mechanical- or temperature sensors), especially photodiodes, or security devices and the like.

A further aspect of the present invention is an organic semiconductor material, layer or component comprising one or more polymers of the present invention. A further aspect is the use of the polymers or materials of the present invention in an organic photovoltaic (PV) device (solar cell), a photodiode, or an organic field effect transistor (OFET). A further aspect is an organic photovoltaic (PV) device (solar cell), a photodiode, or an organic field effect transistor (OFET) comprising a polymer or material of the present invention.

The polymers of the present invention are typically used as organic semiconductors in form of thin organic layers or films, preferably less than 30 microns thick. Typically the semiconducting layer of the present invention is at most 1 micron (=1 μιτι) thick, although it may be thicker if required. For various electronic device applications, the thickness may also be less than about 1 micron thick. For example, for use in an OFET the layer thickness may typically be 100 nm or less. The exact thickness of the layer will depend, for example, upon the requirements of the electronic device in which the layer is used.

For example, the active semiconductor channel between the drain and source in an OFET may comprise a layer of the present invention. An OFET device according to the present invention preferably comprises:

- a source electrode,

- a drain electrode,

- a gate electrode,

- a semiconducting layer,

- one or more gate insulator layers, and

- optionally a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises one or more polymers of the present invention.

The gate, source and drain electrodes and the insulating and semiconducting layer in the OFET device may be arranged in any sequence, provided that the source and drain electrode are separated from the gate electrode by the insulating layer, the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer both contact the insulating layer, and the source electrode and the drain electrode both contact the semiconducting layer. Preferably the OFET comprises an insulator having a first side and a second side, a gate electrode located on the first side of the insulator, a layer comprising a polymer of the present invention located on the second side of the insulator, and a drain electrode and a source electrode located on the polymer layer. The OFET device can be a top gate device or a bottom gate device.

Suitable structures and manufacturing methods of an OFET device are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature, for example in WO03/052841. The gate insulator layer may comprise for example a fluoropolymer, like e.g. the commercially available Cytop 809M®, or Cytop 107M® (from Asahi Glass). Preferably the gate insulator layer is deposited, e.g. by spin-coating, doctor blading, wire bar coating, spray or dip coating or other known methods, from a formulation comprising an insulator material and one or more solvents with one or more fluoro atoms (fluorosolvents), preferably a perfluorosolvent. A suitable perfluorosolvent is e.g. FC75® (available from Acros, catalogue number 12380). Other suitable fluoropolymers and fluorosolvents are known in prior art, like for example the perfluoropolymers Teflon AF® 1600 or 2400 (from DuPont), or Fluoropel® (from Cytonix) or the perfluorosolvent FC 43® (Acros, No. 12377). The semiconducting layer comprising a polymer of the present invention may additionally comprise at least another material. The other material can be, but is not restricted to another polymer of the present invention, a semi-conducting polymer, a polymeric binder, organic small molecules different from a polymer of the present invention, carbon nanotubes, a fullerene derivative, inorganic particles (quantum dots, quantum rods, quantum tripods, T1O2, ZnO etc.), conductive particles (Au, Ag etc.), and insulator materials like the ones described for the gate dielectric (PET, PS etc.). As stated above, the semiconductive layer can also be composed of a mixture of one or more polymers of the present invention and a polymeric binder. The ratio of the polymers of the present invention to the polymeric binder can vary from 5 to 95 percent. Preferably, the polymeric binder is a semicristalline polymer such as polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). With this technique, a degradation of the electrical performance can be avoided (cf. WO2008/001 123A1).

The polymers of the present invention are advantageously used in organic photovoltaic (PV) devices (solar cells). Accordingly, the invention provides PV devices comprising a polymer according to the present invention. A device of this construction will also have rectifying properties so may also be termed a photodiode. Photoresponsive devices have application as solar cells which generate electricity from light and as photodetectors which measure or detect light. The PV device comprise in this order:

(a) a cathode (electrode),

(b) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride,

(c) a photoactive layer,

(d) optionally a smoothing layer,

(e) an anode (electrode),

(f) a substrate.

The photoactive layer comprises the polymers of the present invention. Preferably, the photoactive layer is made of a conjugated polymer of the present invention, as an electron donor and an acceptor material, like a fullerene, particularly a functionalized fullerene PCBM, as an electron acceptor. As stated above, the photoactive layer may also contain a polymeric binder. The ratio of the polymers of formula I to the polymeric binder can vary from 5 to 95 percent. Preferably, the polymeric binder is a semicristalline polymer such as polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and

polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

For heteroju notion solar cells the active layer comprises preferably a mixture of a polymer of the present invention and a fullerene, such as, for example, [60]PCBM (= 6,6-phenyl-C6i- butyric acid methyl ester), or [70]PCBM, in a weight ratio of 1 :1 to 1 :3. The fullerenes useful in this invention may have a broad range of sizes (number of carbon atoms per molecule). The term fullerene as used herein includes various cage-like molecules of pure carbon, including Buckminsterfullerene {Ceo) and the related "spherical" fullerenes as well as carbon nanotubes. Fullerenes may be selected from those known in the art ranging from, for example, C20-C1000. Preferably, the fullerene is selected from the range of C60 to C96. Most preferably the fullerene is Ceo or C70, such as [60]PCBM, or [70]PCBM. It is also permissible to utilize chemically modified fullerenes, provided that the modified fullerene retains acceptor-type and electron mobility characteristics. The acceptor material can also be a material selected from the group consisting of any semi-conducting polymer, such as, for example, a polymer of the present invention, provided that the polymers retain acceptor- type and electron mobility characteristics, organic small molecules, carbon nanotubes, inorganic particles (quantum dots, quantum rods, quantum tripods, T1O2, ZnO etc.).

The photoactive layer is made of a polymer of the present invention as an electron donor and a fullerene, particularly functionalized fullerene PCBM, as an electron acceptor. These two components are mixed with a solvent and applied as a solution onto the smoothing layer by, for example, the spin-coating method, the drop casting method, the Langmuir- Blodgett ("LB") method, the ink jet printing method and the dripping method. A squeegee or printing method could also be used to coat larger surfaces with such a photoactive layer. Instead of toluene, which is typical, a dispersion agent such as chlorobenzene is preferably used as a solvent. Among these methods, the vacuum deposition method, the spin-coating method, the ink jet printing method and the casting method are particularly preferred in view of ease of operation and cost. In the case of forming the layer by using the spin-coating method, the casting method and ink jet printing method, the coating can be carried out using a solution and/or dispersion prepared by dissolving, or dispersing the composition in a concentration of from 0.01 to 90% by weight in an appropriate organic solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofurane, methyltetrahydrofurane, Ν,Ν-dimethylformamide, acetone, acetonitrile, anisole, dichloromethane, dimethylsulfoxide, chlorobenzene, 1 ,2-dichlorobenzene and mixtures thereof.

The photovoltaic (PV) device can also consist of multiple junction solar cells that are processed on top of each other in order to absorb more of the solar spectrum. Such structures are, for example, described in App. Phys. Let. 90, 143512 (2007), Adv. Funct. Mater. 16, 1897-1903 (2006) and WO2004/112161.

A so called 'tandem solar cell' comprise in this order:

(a) a cathode (electrode),

(b) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride,

(c) a photoactive layer,

(d) optionally a smoothing layer,

(e) a middle electrode (such as Au, Al, ZnO, ΤΊΟ2 etc.)

(f) optionally an extra electrode to match the energy level,

(g) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride,

(h) a photoactive layer,

(i) optionally a smoothing layer,

G) an anode (electrode),

(k) a substrate.

The PV device can also be processed on a fiber as described, for example, in

US20070079867 and US 20060013549.

Due to their excellent self-organising properties the materials or films comprising the polymers of the present invention can also be used alone or together with other materials in or as alignment layers in LCD or OLED devices, as described for example in

US2003/0021913.

It is another object of the present invention to provide compounds, which show high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability, when used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.

In a further embodiment the present invention relates to compounds of the formula

(VIII), or

(IX), wherein Y, Y ⁱ s, γι ^β and Y ¹⁷ are independently of each other a group of formula

(I), wherein R ¹ , R ² , R ⁶⁰¹ and R ⁶⁰² are as defined above, p is 0, or 1 , q is 0, or 1 ;

A ¹ and A ² are independently of each other a group of formula

-Ar ¹ -Ar- -Ar 10

^~~ R a is 0, 1 , 2, or 3, b is 0, 1 , 2, or 3; c is 0, 1 , 2, or 3;

A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ^5' are independently of each other a group of formula

-[Ar4] _k -[Ar ⁵ ]i-[Ar ⁶ ] _r [Ar ⁷ ]z-;

k' is 0, 1 , 2, or 3; I is 0, 1 , 2, or 3; r is 0, 1 , 2, or 3; z is 0, 1 , 2, or 3;

R ¹⁰ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, d-dsalkyl, d-dsalkyl tituted one or more

times by E" and/or interrupted one or more times by D", , COO-Ci-Cisalkyl,

C4-Ci8cycloalkyl group, C4-Ci8cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G", C2-Cisalkenyl, C2-Ci8alkynyl, d-dsthioalkoxy, Ci-Cisalkoxy, d-dsalkoxy which is substituted by E" and/or interrupted by D", d-dsaralkyl, d-dsaralkyl, which is substituted by G", or a group of formulae IVa to IVm,

wherein R ²² to R ²⁶ and R ²⁹ to R ⁵⁸ represent independently of each other H, halogen, cyano, Ci-C25alkyl, Ci-C2salkyl which is substituted by E" and/or interrupted by D", C6-C2 ₄ aryl, Ce- C2 ₄ aryl which is substituted by G", C2-C2oheteroaryl, C2-C2oheteroaryl which is substituted by G", a C ₄ -Ci8cycloalkyl group, a C ₄ -Ci8cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G", C2- Ciealkenyl, C2-Cisalkynyl, Ci-Cisalkoxy, Ci-Cisalkoxy which is substituted by E" and/or interrupted by D", C7-C2saralkyl, or C7-C2saralkyl, which is substituted by G",

R ²⁷ and R ²⁸ are independently of each other hydrogen, Ci-C2salkyl, halogen, cyano or C7- C25aralkyl, or R ²⁷ and R ²⁸ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms,

R ⁵⁹ is hydrogen, C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; or Ci-C25alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; or C7-C2sarylalkyl,

D" is -CO-, -COO-, -S-, -0-, or -NR ^{i i2"} -,

E" is d-Csthioalkoxy, Ci-C ₈ alkoxy, CN, -NRii ² 'Ri i3", -CONRii ² "Rii ⁸ ", ₀ r halogen,

G" is E", or Ci-Cisalkyl, and

R ^112" and R ^113" are independently of each other H; C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; Ci-Cisalkyl; or Ci-Cisalkyl which is interrupted by -0-;

R ²¹⁴ and R ²¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C-i-C-isalkyl, C6-C2 ₄ aryl, C2- C ₂ oheteroaryl, -CN or COOR ^{2 6} ;

R ²¹⁶ is Ci-C ₂₅ alkyl, Ci-C ₂₅ haloalkyl, C ₇ -C ₂₅ arylalkyl, C ₆ -C ₂₄ aryl or C ₂ -C ₂ oheteroaryl;

R ²¹⁸ is hydrogen, C6-Cisaryl; C6-Cisaryl which is substituted by Ci-Cisalkyl, or Ci-Cisalkoxy; or Ci-C25alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms; or C7-C2sarylalkyl, Ar ¹ , Ar ² , Ar ³ Ar ⁴ , Ar ⁵ , Ar ⁶ and Ar ⁷ are independently of each other a group of formula (Xla), (Xlb), (Xlc), (Xld), (Xle), (Xlf), (Xlg), (Xlh), (Xli), (Xlj), (Xlk), (XII), (Xlm), (XIn), (Xlo), (Xlpa), (Xlpb), (Xlq), (Xlr), (Xls), (Xlt), (Xlu), (Xlv), (Xlw), (Xlx), (Xly), (Xlz), (Xlla), (Xllb), (Xllc), (Xlld), (Xlle), (Xllf), (Xllg), (Xllh), (Xlli), (Xllj), (Xllk), (XIII), such as, for example, (Xllla), (Xlllb), (Xlllc), (Xllld), (Xllle), (Xlllf), (Xlllg), (Xlllh), (Xllli), (Xlllj), (Xlllk), and (Xllll); or (XIV), such as, for example, (XlVa); (XVa), (XVb), (XVc), (XVd), (XVe), (XVf), (XVg), (XVh), (XVi), (XVj), (XVk), (XVI), (XVm), (XVn), (XVo), (XVp), (XVq), (XVr), (XVs), such as, for example, (XVsa), (XVsb), and (XVsc); (XVt), such as, for example, (XVta), (XVtb), and (XVuc), and (XVu).

The structure represented by formula in two

ways to the groups of formula A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ⁵ ': and

(the dotted line represents the bonding to the groups of formula A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ⁵ '). Both possibilities shall be covered by formula (I).

Preferably, the compound is a compound of the formula A -Y-A ³ -Y ⁵ -A ² (Villa), A -Y-A ³ -Y ¹⁵ A4-Y16.A2 (Vlllb),or A1-Y-A ³ -Y15-A ⁴ -Y16-A5-Y1 ⁷ -A ² (Vlllc), A1-A ³ -Y-A ⁴ -A ² (IXa), A1-A ³ -Y-A ⁴ - Y15-A5-A2 (IXb), or A ⁱ -A ³ -Y-A ⁴ -Y ⁱ⁵ -A5-Y ⁱ⁷ -A5 ^' -A ² (IXc), wherein Y, Y ⁱ s, γι ^β and Y ¹⁷ are

independently of each other a group of formula (I), wherein R ¹

401

and R ² are independently of each other a group of formula , wherein R ⁴⁰⁰ , R ⁴⁰¹ , R ⁴⁰² ,

_R 403 _i R404 _anc j R405 _a re independently of each other H , CN , F, CF ₃ , Ci-Ci ₈ alkoxy; Ci- Ciealkyl; or Ci-Ci8alkyl which is interrupted by -0-, or

R ¹ and R ² form together a group ^' ; and R ⁶⁰¹ and R ⁶⁰² are independently of each other hydrogen, or C1-C25 alkyl, especially hydrogen.

A ¹ and A ² are as defined above,

A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ^5' are independently of each other a group of formula

(XVu'"); wherein

R ³ , R ^3' , R ⁴ and R ^4' are independently of each other hydrogen, or Ci-C25alkyl;

R ⁸ and R ^8' are independently of each other hydrogen, or Ci-C25alkyl;

R ¹¹⁴ is a Ci-C ₃ 8alkyl group;

R ²⁰¹ is a Ci-C38alkyl group; and

R ²⁰² and R ^203' are independently of each other hydrogen or Ci-C2salkyl.

401

R ¹ and , very especially a group of

formula . R ¹ and R ² may be the same, but are preferably the same.

The group of formula (I) is preferably a group of formula

(lb), especially (la).

In a preferred embodiment A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ^5' are independently of each other a group of formula (XVb), (XVb'), (XVh), (XVh'), (XVi), (XVi'), (XVu'), (XVu"), and (XVu'"). In a particularly preferred embodiment A ³ , A ⁴ , A ⁵ and A ^5' are selected from groups of formula (XVb), (XVc), (XVu'), (XVu"), and (XVu'"). of each

In a preferred embodiment the present inventio compounds of formula A ¹ -A ³ -

Y-A ⁴ -A ² (IXa), wherein Y is a group of formula (la), or

mula:

different, but are preferably the same and are H, or Ci-C25alkyl; R ²⁰¹ is a Ci-C38alkyl group);

R ⁴ may be different, but are preferably the same and are H, or Ci-C2salkyl; R ²⁰¹ is a Ci- C38alkyl group);

iii) (R ³ and R ^3' may be different, but are preferably the same and are H, or Ci-C25alkyl; R ⁴ and R ^4' may be different, but are preferably the same and are H, or Ci-C25alkyl).



(A-11 ), wherein R ³ , R ³ ', R and R ⁴ ' are independently of each other hydrogen or Ci-C25alkyl; and R ²⁰¹ is a Ci-C38alkyl group. R ³ , R ^3' , R ⁴ and R ⁴ ' are preferably hydrogen.

Compounds A-1 , A-2, A-5 and A-11 are most preferred.

A ¹ -A ³ -Y-A ³ -A ¹ (IXa) may be prepared by reacting a compound of formula A ¹ -A ³ -X ¹⁶ with compound of formula Χ16 ^' -Υ-Χ16'. χΐ6· j _s -B(OH) ₂ , -B(OH) ₃ -, -BF ₃ , -B(OY ) ₂ , , or and X ¹⁶ is halogen, such as, for example, Br, or I . The Suzuki reaction is typically conducted at about 0 °C to 180 °C in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent such as toluene, xylene. Other solvents such as dimethylformamide, dioxane, dimethoxyethan and tetrahydrofuran can also be used alone, or in mixtures with an aromatic hydrocarbon. An aqueous base, preferably sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, potassium carbonate or bicarbonate is used as activation agent for the boronic acid, boronate and as the HBr scavenger. A condensation reaction may take 0.2 to 100 hours. Organic bases, such as, for example, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, and phase transfer catalysts, such as, for example TBAB, can promote the activity of the boron (see, for example, Leadbeater & Marco; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng. 42 (2003) 1407 and references cited therein). Other variations of reaction conditions are given by T. I. Wallow and B. M. Novak in J. Org. Chem. 59 (1994) 5034-5037; and M. Remmers, M. Schulze, and G. Wegner in Macromol. Rapid Commun. 17 (1996) 239-252. In the above Suzuki coupling reactions the halogen X ¹⁶ on the halogenated reaction partner can be replaced with the X ^16' moiety and at the same time the X ^16' moiety of the other reaction partner is replaced by X ¹⁶ .

The synthesis of the corresponding diketopyrrolopyrrole intermediates is, for example, described in R. A. J. Janssen et al., Macromol. Chem. Phys. 201 1 , 212, 515-520,

US2010/0326225 and EP1 1 179840.1.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to an organic semiconductor material, layer or component, comprising a compound of formula VIII, or IX and to a semiconductor device, comprising a compound of formula VIII, or IX and/or an organic semiconductor material, layer or component.

The semiconductor is preferably an organic photovoltaic (PV) device (solar cell), a photodiode, or an organic field effect transistor. The structure and the components of the OFET device has been described in more detail above.

Accordingly, the invention provides organic photovoltaic (PV) devices (solar cells) comprising a compound of the formula VIII, or IX. The structure of organic photovoltaic devices (solar cells) is, for example, described in C. Deibel et al. Rep. Prog. Phys. 73 (2010) 096401 and Christoph Brabec, Energy Environ. Sci 2. (2009) 347-303.

The PV device comprise in this order:

(a) a cathode (electrode),

(b) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride,

(c) a photoactive layer,

(d) optionally a smoothing layer,

(e) an anode (electrode),

(f) a substrate. The photoactive layer comprises the compounds of the formula VIII, or IX. Preferably, the photoactive layer is made of a compound of the formula VIII, or IX, as an electron donor and an acceptor material, like a fullerene, particularly a functionalized fullerene PCBM, as an electron acceptor. As stated above, the photoactive layer may also contain a polymeric binder. The ratio of the small molecules of formula VIII, or IX to the polymeric binder can vary from 5 to 95 percent. Preferably, the polymeric binder is a semicristalline polymer such as polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

The fullerenes useful in this invention may have a broad range of sizes (number of carbon atoms per molecule). The term fullerene as used herein includes various cage-like molecules of pure carbon, including Buckminsterfullerene {Ceo) and the related "spherical" fullerenes as well as carbon nanotubes. Fullerenes may be selected from those known in the art ranging from, for example, C20-C1000. Preferably, the fullerene is selected from the range of Οβο to C96. Most preferably the fullerene is C60 or C70, such as [60]PCBM, or

[70]PCBM. It is also permissible to utilize chemically modified fullerenes, provided that the modified fullerene retains acceptor-type and electron mobility characteristics. The acceptor material can also be a material selected from the group consisting of another compounds of formula VIII, or IX, or any semi-conducting polymer, such as, for example, a polymer of formula I, provided that the polymers retain acceptor-type and electron mobility

characteristics, organic small molecules, carbon nanotubes, inorganic particles (quantum dots, quantum rods, quantum tripods, T1O2, ZnO etc.). The photoactive layer is made of a compound of the formula VIII, or IX, as an electron donor and a fullerene, particularly functionalized fullerene PCBM, as an electron acceptor. These two components are mixed with a solvent and applied as a solution onto the smoothing layer by, for example, the spin-coating method, the drop casting method, the Langmuir-Blodgett ("LB") method, the ink jet printing method and the dripping method. A squeegee or printing method could also be used to coat larger surfaces with such a photoactive layer. Instead of toluene, which is typical, a dispersion agent such as chlorobenzene is preferably used as a solvent. Among these methods, the vacuum deposition method, the spin-coating method, the ink jet printing method and the casting method are particularly preferred in view of ease of operation and cost.

In the case of forming the layer by using the spin-coating method, the casting method and ink jet printing method, the coating can be carried out using a solution and/or dispersion prepared by dissolving, or dispersing the composition in a concentration of from 0.01 to 90% by weight in an appropriate organic solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofurane, methyltetrahydrofurane, Ν,Ν-dimethylformamide, acetone, acetonitrile, anisole, dichloromethane, dimethylsulfoxide, chlorobenzene, 1 ,2-dichlorobenzene and mixtures thereof.

The photovoltaic (PV) device can also consist of multiple junction solar cells that are processed on top of each other in order to absorb more of the solar spectrum. Such structures are, for example, described in App. Phys. Let. 90, 143512 (2007), Adv. Funct. Mater. 16, 1897-1903 (2006) and WO2004/112161.

A so called 'tandem solar cell' comprise in this order:

(a) a cathode (electrode),

(b) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride,

(c) a photoactive layer,

(d) optionally a smoothing layer,

(e) a middle electrode (such as Au, Al, ZnO, ΤΊΟ2 etc.)

(f) optionally an extra electrode to match the energy level,

(g) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride,

(h) a photoactive layer,

(i) optionally a smoothing layer,

G) an anode (electrode),

(k) a substrate.

The PV device can also be processed on a fiber as described, for example, in

US20070079867 and US 20060013549. Due to their excellent self-organising properties the materials or films comprising the compounds of the formula VIII, or IX can also be used alone or together with other materials in or as alignment layers in LCD or OLED devices, as described for example in US2003/0021913. An OFET device according to the present invention preferably comprises:

- a source electrode,

- a drain electrode,

- a gate electrode,

- a semiconducting layer,

- one or more gate insulator layers, and

- optionally a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a compound of formula VIII, or IX.

The gate, source and drain electrodes and the insulating and semiconducting layer in the OFET device may be arranged in any sequence, provided that the source and drain electrode are separated from the gate electrode by the insulating layer, the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer both contact the insulating layer, and the source electrode and the drain electrode both contact the semiconducting layer. Preferably the OFET comprises an insulator having a first side and a second side, a gate electrode located on the first side of the insulator, a layer comprising a compound of formula VIII, or IX located on the second side of the insulator, and a drain electrode and a source electrode located on the polymer layer. The following examples are included for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the claims. Unless otherwise stated, all parts and percentages are by weight. Weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity (Mw/Mn = PD) are determined by High Temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography (HT-GPC) [Apparatus: GPC PL 220 from Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA, USA) yielding the responses from refractive index (Rl), Chromatographic conditions: Column: 3 "PLgel Mixed B" columns from Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA, USA); with an average particle size of ΙΟϋμιτι (dimensions 300 x 7.5 mm I.D.) Mobile phase: 1 ,2,4-trichlorobenzene (for GPC, AppliChem, Darmstadt, Germany) stabilised by butylhydroxytoluene (BHT, 1 g/l), Chromatographic temperature: 150°C; Mobile phase flow: 1 ml/min; Solute concentration: about 1 mg/ml; Injection volume: 200 μΙ; Detection: Rl, Procedure of molecular weight calibration: Relative calibration is done by use of a EasiVial calibration kit from Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA, USA) containing 12 narrow polystyrene calibration standards spanning the molecular weight range from 6Ό35Ό00 Da - 162 Da, i. e., PS 6Ό35Ό00, PS 3Ό53Ό00, PS 915Ό00, PS 483Ό00, PS 184'900, PS 60'450, PS 19720, PS 8'450, PS 3'370, PS 1 '260, PS 580, PS 162 Da. A polynomic calibration is used to calculate the molecular weight.

All polymer structures given in the examples below are idealized representations of the polymer products obtained via the polymerization procedures described. If more than two components are copolymerized with each other sequences in the polymers can be either alternating or random depending on the polymerisation conditions.

Examples

a) The synthesis of compound 100 is described, for example, in WO2009115413.

862 mg (20.55 mmol) lithium hydroxide monohydrate in 10 ml water are added to 2.5 g ( 6.85 mmol) of compound 100 and 5.46 g (14.04 mmol) benzyl(triphenyl)phosphonium chloride in 40 ml dichloromethane. The reaction mixture is stirred at 25 °C for 4 h. The organic phase is separated, the aqueous phase is extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases are dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered. The solvent is distilled off and the product 101 is then purified by two successive column chromatographies (eluent: toluene/cyclohexane 1 :10 and then toluene/cyclohexane 1 : 1). Yield: 52% (1.89 g, white powder).

H NMR (400 MHz, CDC ): δ = 7.75 (s, 1 H), 7.47-7.22 (m, 10H), 6.86 (s, 1 H), 5.81 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.96 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1 H), 0.46 (s, 9H), 0.30 (s, 9H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCb): δ = 152.3, 142.4, 141.9, 141.3, 140.5, 138.7, 135.6, 131.1 , 128.9 (2C), 128.7 (2C), 128.2 (2C), 128.1 (2C), 127.5, 127.2, 125.8 (2C), 125.2, 116.2, 94. ⁺ ).

b) In a 100 mL flask previously flushed with nitrogen and equipped with a condenser and a nitrogen bubbler is introduced compound 101 (1.3 g, 2.46 mmol) and tetrahydrofurane (THF, 30 mL). A solution of tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate (1.71 g, 5.41 mmol) in tetrahydrofurane (10 mL) is then added and the mixture is stirred for 2 h at room temperature. After that time water (100 mL) is added, and the product is extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases are then dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered. The solvent is distilled off and the product 102 is then purified by column chromatography (eluent: cyclohexane/toluene 4:1). Yield: 96% (910 mg, white powder). 1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDC ): δ = 7.60 (1 H, d, J = 5.5 Hz), 7.44-7.24 (12H, m), 6.74 (1 H, d, J = 5.5 Hz), 5.79 (1 H, d, J = 7.5 Hz), 4.93 (1 H, d, J = 7.5 Hz); GC/MS: (CI pos. ): 385.16 (MH ⁺ ).

c) 0.52 g (2.29 mmol) 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) are added to 0.8 g (2.08 mmol) of compound 102 in 20 ml chlorobenzene. The reaction mixture is refluxed for 2 h under nitrogen, and then cooled to room temperature. Dichloromethane is added and the reaction mixture is washed with a sodium hydrogen carbonate solution. The organic phase is dried with magnesium sulphate and filtered. The solvent is evaporated on a rotary evaporator. The crude product is then purified by column chromatography (cyclohexane/toluene 4:1) to get product 103 as a white powder. Yield: 88% (702 mg, white powder).

1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCb): δ = 7.88 (1 H, d, J = 5.3 Hz), 7.70 (2H, m), 7.61-7.56 (5H, m), 7.53 (1 H, d, J = 5.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.37-7.28 (4H, m), 6.97 (1 H, d, J = 5.3 Hz). GC/MS: (CI pos.): 383.21 (MH ⁺ ).

-78 °C to r.t. 104 d) In a 3-neck flask equiped with a condenser and a nitrogen bubbler is introduced compound 103 (1 .02 g, 2.67 mmol). The flask is flushed with nitrogen and tetrahydrofuran (THF) is added (80 imL). The solution is then cooled to -78 °C and a n-butyllithium solution (2.67 ml_, 6.67 mmol, 2.5 M solution) is added dropwise. The resulting mixture is stirred for 1 h 20 at -78 °C. After that time 2-isopropoxy-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborolane (1.49 g, 8.00 mmol) is added at -78 °C. After 20 minutes at -78 °C, the mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred 2 hours at room temperature. Then, water is added at 0 °C and the product is extracted with tert-butyl-methyl-ether (100 imL) and dichloromethane (two times 100 imL). The combined organic fractions are dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated on rotary evaporator. The crude solid is triturated in hot acetonitrile and left to cool to 0 °C. The white solid (product 104) is filtered and dried under vacuum. Yield: 72% (1 .21 g, white powder).

1 H-NMR (400.1 MHz, CDCb): δ = 8.40 (1 H, s), 7.62-7.54 (7H, m), 7.52 (1 H, s), 7.32-7.26 (3H, m), 1 .43 (12H, s), 1 .33 (12H, s). ³ C NMR (100 MHz, CDCb): δ = 149.1 , 147.2, 135.9, 134.4, 133.6, 132.4, 131.8, 130.8, 130.4 (2C), 130.3, 129.2 (2C), 128.4 (2C), 128.2, 127.7,

24.7 (4C).

e) The synthesis of 3,6-bis(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-hexyldecyl)pyrrolo[3 ,4- c]pyrrole-1 ,4(2H,5H)-dione 107 is, for example, described in WO2008/000664 and Y. Geerts; Tetrahedron 66 (2010) 1837-1845. In a flask equiped with a condenser, a mechanical stirrer, a nitrogen bubbler and a thermometer is introduced the bis-boronic ester 104 from step d) (400 mg, 0.63 mmol) and 3,6-bis(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2- hexyldecyl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1 , 4(2H, 5H)-dione 107 (545 mg, 0.60 mmol). The flask is flushed with nitrogen and dry THF (30 mL) is added by syringe. The resulting red solution is heated to 60 °C and a solution of palladium(ll) acetate (4.0 mg, 0.018 mmol) and 2-(di-tert- butylphosphino)-1-phenylpyrrole (20.7 mg, 0.072 mmol) in 10 mL THF is added. The resulting mixture is stirred for 5 minutes at reflux temperature. After that time finely crushed lithium hydroxide monohydrate (159 mg, 3.78 mmol) is added in a single portion at 60 °C and is stirred at reflux temperature for 4 hours. The reaction mixture is poured into ethanol (300 mL) and the precipitate is filtered on a Buchner funnel. The solid is then washed with 200 mL ethanol and 200 mL deionised water. The filtered solid is then put in a flask containing 150 mL chloroform and 150 mL of a 3% sodium cyanide aqueous solution and is heated under vigourous stirring at 60 °C overnight. The organic phase is washed with 100 mL water, and two thirds of the chloroform is then evaporated. Ethanol is added to precipitate the product, which is filtered on a Buchner funnel, washed with 300 mL ethanol and dried in the oven. The treatment with sodium cyanide is then repeated a second time. The dried solid is then purified by soxhiet extraction, first with tetrahydrofuran (200 mL, 6 h). The fraction soluble in tetrahydrofuran is discarded and the remaining solid is then subjected to soxhiet extraction with chloroform (200 mL, 7 h). The green solution is concentrated, the product is precipitated in ethanol, filtered and dried under reduced pressure to afford the polymer P-1 (598 mg, yield 88%). High temperature GPC: M _w = 97700, Mn = 46200, PD = 2.1 1.

105 106

a) In a flask equiped with a condenser, is introduced compound 105 (7.00 g, 8.05 mmol), sodium iodide (4.83 g, 32.2 mmol) and copper iodide (153 mg, 0.81 mmol). The flask is flushed with nitrogen (3 x vacuum/nitrogen) and 1 ,4-dioxane (175 mL) is added, followed by the trans-N,N-dimethylcyclohexane-1 ,2-diamine (229 mg, 1.61 mmol). The mixture is then stirred at reflux overnight. After that time the mixture is poured into 350 mL water. 350 mL of a 1 M NaOH aqueous solution is added, and the product is extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases are dried over sodium sulphate and filtered. Solvents are removed on rotary evaporator. Analysis shows an unseparable mixture of product and starting material. The crude product is then subjected several times to similar reaction conditions until conversion is >97%. The crude product is then purified by column chromatography and recrystallization in isopropanol to afford the compound 106 as a red solid.

1 H-NMR (400.1 MHz, CDCb): ΠδΠ= 8.89 (2H, d, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.38 (2H, dd, J = 8.5, 1.8 Hz), 7.09 (2H, d, J = 1.8 Hz), 3.60 (4H, d, J = 7.2 Hz), 1.87 (2H, m), 1.38-1.20 (48H, m), 0.90-0.83 (12H, m); NMR (100 MHz, CDCb): δ = 167.9 (2C), 145.8 (2C), 132.9 (2C), 131 .3 (2C), 130.9 (2C), 121.0 (2C), 1 17.2 (2C), 99.0 (2C), 44.6 (2C), 36.1 (2C), 31.9 (2C), 31.8 (2C), 31 .5 (4C), 30.0 (2C), 29.7 (2C), 29.6 (2C), 29.3 (2C), 26.4 (2C), 26.3 (2C), 22.7

p-2

b) In a flask equiped with a condenser, a mechanical stirrer, a nitrogen bubbler and a thermometer is introduced the bis-boronic ester 104 (466 mg, 0.73 mmol) and (3E)-1-(2- hexyldecyl)-3-[1-(2-hexyldecyl)-6-iodo-2-oxo-indolin-3-ylide ne]-6-iodo-indolin-2-one 106

(674 mg, 0.70 mmol). The flask is flushed with nitrogen and dry THF (40 imL) is added by syringe. The resulting red solution is heated to 60 °C and a solution of palladium(ll) acetate (4.7 mg, 0.021 mmol) and 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)-1-phenylpyrrole (24.1 mg, 0.084 mmol) in 10 mL THF is added. The resulting mixture is stirred for 5 minutes at reflux temperature. After that time finely crushed lithium hydroxide monohydrate (185 mg, 4.41 mmol) is added in a single portion at 60 °C and is stirred at reflux temperature for 5 hours. The reaction mixture is poured into ethanol (400 mL) and the precipitate is filtered on a Buchner funnel. The solid is then washed with 200 mL ethanol and 200 mL deionised water. The filtered solid is then put in a flask containing 150 mL chloroform and 150 mL of a 3% sodium cyanide aqueous solution and is heated under vigorous stirring at 55 °C overnight. The organic phase is washed three times with 100 mL water, and the chloroform is then evaporated. Ethanol is added to precipitate the product, which is filtered on a Buchner funnel, washed with 200 mL water and 50 mL ethanol and dried in the oven. The treatment with sodium cyanide is then repeated a second time. The dried solid is then purified by soxhlet extraction, first with acetone (200 mL, 2 h) and then with tert-butyl-methyl-ether (200 mL, 5 h). The fractions soluble in acetone and tert-butyl-methyl-ether are discarded and the remaining solid is then subjected to soxhlet extraction with THF (200 mL, 5 h). The solution is concentrated, the product is precipitated in ethanol, filtered and dried under reduced pressure to afford the polymer P-2 (659 mg, yield 86%). High temperature GPC: Mw = 24600, M _n = 15500, PD = 1.58. Example 3: Synthesis of polymer P-3

The synthesis of 3,6-bis(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-butyloctyl)pyrrolo[3 ,4-c]pyrrole- 1 ,4(2H,5H)-dione 108 is, for example, described in WO201 1/144566.

In a flask equiped with a condenser, a mechanical stirrer, a nitrogen bubbler and a thermometer is introduced compound 104 (400 mg, 0.63 mmol) and 3,6-bis(5- bromothiophen-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-butyloctyl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrro le-1 ,4(2H,5H)-dione 108 (458 mg, 0.60 mmol). The flask is flushed with nitrogen and dry THF (30 mL) is added by syringe. The resulting red solution is heated to 60 °C and a solution of palladium(ll) acetate (4.0 mg, 0.018 mmol) and 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)-1-phenylpyrrole (20.7 mg, 0.072 mmol) in 10 mL THF is added. The resulting mixture is stirred for 5 minutes at reflux temperature. After that time finely crushed lithium hydroxide monohydrate (159 mg, 3.78 mmol) is added in a single portion at 60 °C and the mixture is stirred at reflux temperature for 4 hours. The reaction mixture is poured into ethanol (300 mL) and the precipitate is filtered on a Buchner funnel. The solid is then washed with 200 mL ethanol and 200 mL deionised water. The filtered solid is then put in a flask containing 150 mL chloroform and 150 mL of a 3% sodium cyanide aqueous solution and is heated under vigourous stirring at 60 °C overnight. The organic phase is washed with water, and two thirds of the chloroform is then evaporated. Ethanol is added to precipitate the product, which is filtered on a Buchner funnel, washed with 300 mL ethanol and dried in the oven. The treatment with sodium cyanide is then repeated a second time. The dried solid is then purified by soxhiet extraction. Fractions soluble in acetone, tert-butyl-methyl-ether and cyclohexane are discarded. Soxhiet extraction is then performed with tetrahydrofuran, and the green solution is concentrated, the product is precipitated in ethanol, filtered and dried under reduced pressure to afford the polymer P-3 (510 mg, yield 86%). High temperature GPC: M _w = 91400, Mn = 33100, PD = 2.76.

Application Examples 1 , 2 and 3

Photovoltaic application of the semiconducting polymers:

The solar cell has the following structure: Al electrode/LiF layer/organic layer, including compound of the invention/[poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) (PEDOT)/ poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS)]/ITO electrode/glass substrate. The solar cells are made by spin coating a layer of the PEDOT-PSS on a pre-patterned ITO on glass substrate. Then a 1 :2 mixture of the semiconducting polymer (1 % by weight): [70]PCBM (a substituted C70 fullerene) is spin coated (organic layer). LiF and Al are sublimed under high vacuum through a shadow-mask.

Solar cell performance

The solar cell is measured in homemade solar light simulator with Osram Xenon Short Arc XBO 450W lamp. Then with the External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) graph the current is estimated under AM1.5 conditions.

The OPV performances of Semiconducting polymers are shown in the table below:

Application Examples 4, 5 and 6

OFET application of the semiconducting polymers:

Semiconductor film deposition:

Siliconwafers (Si n- -(425 + 40 μιη)) with a 230 nm thick S1O2 dielectric and patterned indium tin oxide (15 nm)/ gold (30 nm) contacts (L = 20, 10, 5, 2.5 μιτι, W = 0.01 m; Fraunhofer IPMS (Dresden)) are prepared by standard cleaning by washing with acetone and i- propanol followed by oxygen plasma treatment for 30 minutes. The substrates are transferred in a glove box. An octyltrichlorsilane (OTS) monolayer is grown on the dielectric surface by putting the substrates in a 50 mM solution of octyltrichlorosilane (OTS) in trichloroethylene for 1 h. After monolayer growth, the substrates are washed with toluene to remove physisorbed silane. The semiconductor is dissolved in a proper solvent in a concentration 0.75 % by weight at 80°C and spin-coated at 1500 rpms for 60s onto the substrates.

OFET Measurement: OFET transfer and output characteristics are measured on an Agilent 4155C semiconductor parameter analyzer. The devices are annealed in a glovebox at 150 °C for 15 minutes before the measurements are done in a glove box under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. For p-type transistors the gate voltage (V _g ) varies from 10 to -30 V and at drain voltage (Vd) equal to -3 and -30V for the transfer characterisation. For the output characterization Vd is varied from 0 to -30V at V _g = 0, -10, -20, -30 V.

Appl. Mobility,

Semiconductor Solvent On/off Example cm s

4 Polymer P-1 oDCB 1.80 · 10-2 1.10 · 10 ⁵

5 Polymer P-2 oDCB 2.00 · 10-3 4.30 · 10 ⁵

6 Polymer P-3 oDCB 6.80 · 10-3 1.80 · 10 ⁶