π‐Conjugated Furan‐Based Polymers

Abstract Conjugated organic semiconducting materials have received significant attention for use in low‐cost, rapidly processed, large‐area electronic devices. Much of this work has focused on benzenoid‐building blocks such as benzene, thiophene, and pyrrole due to the ease of synthesis coupled with the inherent environmental stability and relatively high performance characteristics of the resulting materials. Furan has been for the most part overlooked, although the past 3 years have witnessed a resurgence of interest. This resurgence is due to the weaker aromaticity of the furan ring, the greater solubilities of furan‐containing π‐conjugated materials relative to other benzenoid systems and the availability of furan‐based starting materials from renewable resources. In this article, we will address the properties of furan‐containing π‐conjugated materials and the synthetic methods employed in the construction of conjugated oligomer and polymer structures before highlighting several contemporary examples of furan‐based conjugated polymers.