High quality poly(9,10-dihydrophenanthrene) (PDHP) films with an electrical conductivity of 3.8×10－1 S/cm were synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) containing 10% concentrated sulfuric acid (SA) on a stainless steel electrode. The initial oxidation onset of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene in BFEE containing 10% SA was only 0.93 V (vs. SCE), which was very much lower than that determined in acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 mol/L Bu4NBF4 (1.75 V vs. SCE). The polymer obtained from this medium showed good electrochemical behavior and could be partly dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, etc. FT-IR spectra and quantum calculation indicated that the polymerization of monomer occurred mainly at 2,7 or 3,6 positions. Fluorescent spectral studies indicated that the polymer was a blue-light emitter. TG and DTG analyses showed that the as-formed PDHP films had good thermal stability.

Key words: conducting polymer, poly(9,10-dihydrophenanthrene), electrochemical polymerization, boron trifluoride diethyl etherate