Aliphatic phenylene vinylene co-polyniers: tuning structure and properties through co-monomer feed ratios

Summary form only given. Aliphatic phenylene vinylene co-polymers are produced through condensation of dialdehydes and bis-phosphoranes (Wittig method). The aliphatic linker group is incorporated in the backbone of poly(phenylenevinylene) [PPV] chains by introducing a non-conjugated dialdehyde or bis-phosphorane into the PPV polymerization reaction [terephthalaldehyde + 1,4-xylylidene-bis-(triphenylphosphorane)]. By controlling co-monomer feed percentage of the linker group to influence conjugation length of the PPV segments, luminescence of the co-polymers can be varied from blue to green-yellow. The nature of the linker group affects material properties such as solubility and liquid crystallinity. A single-pot reaction methodology - utilizing chemicals commercially available -- is described. The length and amount of linker groups in the PPV-type polymers are systematically varied to produce a series of materials ranging from aliphatic flexible polymers to aromatic rigid polymers.