Synthesis and reactions of poly[(ethoxysilylene)phenylenevinylene]s and chain-to-pendant energy transfer in the resulting polymer

Reactions of (bromophenylethenyl)diethoxysilanes with magnesium in THF gave poly[(ethoxysilylene)phenylenevinylene]s. The ethoxy group of the polymers could be readily replaced with other substituents by treating them with nucleophiles. Optical properties of the resulting poly(silylenephenylenevinylene)s were examined with respect to their UV absorption and emission spectra. Of those, pyrenylethynyl-substituted one exhibited energy transfer from the backbone to the substituent in the photo-excited state.