Synthesis of highly conjugated poly(3,9-carbazolyleneethynylenearylene)s emitting variously colored fluorescence

Novel conjugated polymers P1–P7 containing 3,9-linked carbazole units in the main chain were synthesized by the polycondensation of 3-ethynyl-9-(4-ethynylphenyl)carbazole (EEPCz) and dihaloarenes, and their optical and electrical properties were studied. Polymers with weight-average molecular weights of 4100–48,000 were obtained in 24–92% yields by the Sonogashira coupling polycondensation in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/Et3N at 30 or 50 °C for 48 h. All the polymers absorbed light around 350 nm. The polymers with electron-accepter units exhibited absorption bands originating from charge transfer. The polymers except the one containing azobenzenes emitted variously colored fluorescence with moderate quantum yields upon excitation at the absorption maxima. P1–P3 were oxidized around 0.6 V, and then reduced around 0.5 V. The conductivity of P3 was 1.1 × 10−14 S/cm at 103 V/cm.