Preparation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical monomers towards bridge trifluoromethylated poly(p-phenylenevinylene)

The preparation and identification of a series of trifluoromethylated and bis(trifluoromethylated) precursors and monomers for bridge substituted trifluoromethylated poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) is reported. These monomers were prepared in several steps from terephthaldicarboxaldehyde and they contain symmetrical and unsymmetrical combinations of leaving groups and/or polarizers, including chlorides, sulfoxides, sulphones, tosylates and S-methyl (and also O-ethyl) xanthates. The electron withdrawing effect of the trifluoromethyl group dominated the regioselectivity of substitution, thus allowing the convenient and selective formation of unsymmetrically substituted products in high yield.