The attachment of conjugated polymers (CPs), characterized by their optical and electronic properties and excellent processability, to inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), known for their specialized electronic and photonic properties, has proven to result in unique and promising (hybrid) materials. Although CPs can be functionalized with many different end groups, the process to find a correct match between the desired NP and appropriate functional group on the CP is often tedious and time-consuming. This study aims to solve this problem by investigating the potential of catechol as a universal linker molecule for the synthesis of hybrid CP/NP materials. First, the synthesis of poly(9,9-di((S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl)fluorene) via Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst transfer oxidative polycondensation using an external catechol Pd-initiator is investigated. A chain-growth polymerization without transfer reactions for molar masses up to 28.3 kg mol–1 is established without degradation of the catechol in basic environments. These polymers are subsequently used to graft a variety of NP materials, including magnetic- (Fe3O4), plasmonic- (Au), and oxide-type (SiO2) NPs, proving its potential as a universal linker molecule. In addition, the influence of the catechol group on the supramolecular organization of free polyfluorene is investigated by comparison with the well-known o-tolyl end-capped polyfluorenes. From these results, it can be concluded that the catechol group significantly disrupts the formation of well-defined supramolecular architectures. Finally, as a preliminary study, the supramolecular organization of the hybrid NPs is compared to the free polymer using solvatochromism experiments. The results indicate an absence of chiral response upon fixation of the polymer onto a surface.
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