Employing MALDI-MS on poly(alkylthiophenes): Analysis of molecular weights, molecular weight distributions, end-group structures, and end-group modifications

Regioregular, head-to-tail coupled, poly(3-alkylthiophenes), synthesized by three different methods, were subjected to MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Polymer samples of both high and low polydispersities were examined. Polymer samples of narrow polydispersity were obtained by fractionation of the polymer by Soxhlet extraction with various solvents. Comparisons between the molecular weights calculated by MALDI and GPC of all fractionated polymer samples showed that GPC calculated molecular weights are a factor of 1.2-2.3 times higher than MALDI. The polydispersities calculated by MALDI were identical or slightly lower than those calculated by GPC. Polymer end-group compositions were also analyzed. We found that more than one type of end-group structure could be detected, and these structures are dependent on the synthetic method employed. Chemical modification of the end-group structure was also performed and monitored by MALDI with successful results. We observed that smaller polymer chains were subject to end-group fragmentation when the MALDI laser power was high. Larger polymer chains, however, showed no such fragmentation.