Preparation of new poly(ester-imide)s with cyanoazobenzene side chains generating optical phase-conjugate signals

New semi-rigid poly(ester-imide)s with cyanoazobenzene side chains were prepared by melt polycondensation of a diethyl isophthalate derivative of cyanoazobenzene with N, N′-dihexanols of five aromatic diimides in the presence of zinc acetate. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements and polarizing microscope observations demonstrated that the polymers have glass transitions (T_g) between 46 and 93°C and show no liquid crystalline (LC) properties. All poly(ester-imide)s generated optical phase-conjugate (PC) signals at high reflectivity by degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) at low pump-beam power.     

Thermal properties of poly(ester‐imide)s with C12H24 and C22H44 groups

The thermal properties of poly(4,4′‐phthaloimidobenzoyl‐n‐methyleneoxycarbonyl) with n =12 and 22, abbreviated as PEIM‐12 and PEIM‐22, respectively, have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The heat capacities of the solid states of both polymers were measured and compared to computed heat capacities from approximate vibrational spectra. The deviations from the vibrations‐only heat capacity were used to identify large‐amplitude, conformational motions. The heat capacities of the liquid states were described as linear functions of temperature. They agreed with the liquid heat capacities generated from the ATHAS addition scheme using group contributions derived from polymers containing the same chemical segments as the PEIM‐ns. Knowing the heat capacities for the solid and liquid, the transition parameters could be separated and enthalpies, entropies, and free enthalpies obtained. With these data, the change of the crystallinity with temperature could be computed. In the early stages of solidification both compounds contain significant entropy contributions from conformational ordering of the flexible spacer and little from the rigid, aromatic segments. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 319–328, 2000     

Preparation,Morphology, and Structure of Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polyester-imide/Phenol-formaldehyde Resin Blends

As a novel toughening agent, thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCPs) possess excellent properties of high strength, high modulus, low expanding coefficient, and high thermal stability. In this study, a thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(ester-imide) derived from N,N’-hexane-1,6-diylbis(tri-millitimide) (IA6), p-hydroxylbenzoic acid (PHB), and 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHBP) was synthesized by the Higashi's direct polycondensation method. The structure and properties of the TLCP were studied using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetic analyses (TGA), polarized light microscopy (POM), and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The results revealed that the synthesized polyester-imide is a nematic TLCP with good thermal stability and its starting decomposition temperature is up to 439°C. Additionally, polymer blends of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin with different contents of polyester-imide were prepared and characterized by POM and WAXD. POM results demonstrated that two-step blending is an ideal method for blending TLCP and PF resin. By this method, continuous filamentous stripes can be clearly observed at 230°C for TLCP/PF blend of 10 wt% poly(ester-imide).     

Synthesis and properties of polyesters of isomeric poly(oxynaphthyleneoxy-2-bromoterephthaloyl)s

A series of aromatic polyesters were prepared from 2-bromoterephthalic acid and naphthalenediol isomers. Only the polymers obtained from 1,4-, and 1,5- and 2,6-naphthalenediols were thermotropic nematogens and those from bent naphthalenediols were not liquid crystalline. Only the polyesters derived from 1,4-, 1,5-, and 2,6-naphthalenediols were semicrystalline. The melting temperatures ranged from 319 to 374°C depending on the structure of naphthalenediol moiety. The glass transition temperature, T_g, ranged from 95 to 168°C. TGA studied revealed that the polyesters have fairly good thermal stability     

Effect of lateral substituents on the mesomorphic properties of side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing 4-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]phenyl 4-(alkenyloxy)benzoate side groups

The synthesis of side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing either 4-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]phenyl 4-(alkenyloxy)benzoate or laterally fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, and methoxy-substituted 4-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]phenyl 4-(alkenyloxy)benzoate mesogenic side groups is presented. The mesomorphic properties of the synthesized polymers have been characterized by optical polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction measurements. The effects of spacer length and lateral substituent on the mesomorphic properties of the obtained polymers are examined. The five polymers which contain three methylene units in the spacers show no mesophase, while the five polymers which contain eleven methylene units in the spacer display smectic mesomorphism. Among the other fifteen polymers which contain respectively four, five, or six methylene units in the spacers, those with small fluoro and chloro substituents reveal respectively an S_A phase, while those with bulky bromo and methoxy substituents show no liquid crystalline behavior. The experimental results demonstrate that introducing a bulky lateral substituent into the mesogenic core of a polymer depresses the tendency to form a mesophase. Furthermore, the technique of thermally stimulated current has been used to study the dipolar relaxation mechanisms in a side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2793–2800, 1997     

Preparation and characterization of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing chenodeoxycholic acid residue

A series of new side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing chenodiol residue derived from 24-[4′-hydroxybiphenyl-4-yl-4-(allyloxy)benzoyloxy]-3α,7α-di{n-[4′-(4-ethoxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-yloxy]-n-oxoalkanoyloxy}-5β-cholane was designed and prepared. The chemical structures of the monomer and polymer were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectra. The mesomorphic properties of monomer and polymer were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The side-chain liquid crystalline polymers revealed wide mesophase temperature range and high thermal stability, and they showed nematic liquid crystalline phase. The influence of flexible space group length on thermal properties and specific rotation was examined.     

Synthesis and properties of novel aromatic poly(ester-imide)s bearing 1,5-bis(benzoyloxy)naphthalene units

Two series of new aromatic poly(ester-imide)s were prepared from 1,5-bis(4-aminobenzoyloxy)naphthalene (p-1) and 1,5-bis(3-aminobenzoyloxy)naphthalene (m-1), respectively, with six commercially available aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides via a conventional two-stage synthesis that included ring-opening polyaddition to give poly(amic acid)s followed by chemical imidization to polyimides. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s obtained in the first stage had inherent viscosities of 0.41-0.84 and 0.66-1.37 dl/g, respectively. All the para-series and most of the meta-series poly(ester-imide)s were semicrystalline and showed less solubility. Two of the meta-series poly(ester-imide)s derived from less rigid dianhydrides were amorphous and readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents, and they could be solution-cast into transparent and tough films with good mechanical properties. The meta-series polymers derived from rigid dianhydrides were generally semicrystalline and showed less solubility. Except for one example, the meta-series poly(ester-imide)s displayed discernible T_gs in the range 239-273 °C by DSC. All of these two series poly(ester-imide)s did not show significant decomposition below 450 °C in nitrogen or in air.     

Influence of alkoxy tail length and unbalanced mesogenic core on phase behavior of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymers

When the flexible terminal substituent changes from butoxy to hexyloxy or longer, smectic C (S_C) liquid crystalline phase was firstly reported to develop from a kind of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymer (MJLCP) whose mesogenic side groups are unbalancedly bonded to the main chain without spacers. A series of MJLCPs, poly[4,4′‐bis(4‐alkoxyphenyl)‐2‐vinylbiphenyl(carboxide)] (nC2Vp, n is the number of the carbons in the alkoxy groups, n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12) were designed and synthesized successfully via free radical polymerization. The molecular weights of the polymers were characterized with gel permeation chromatography, and the liquid crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy experiments, and 1D, 2D wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. Comparing with the butoxy analog, the polymer with unbalanced mesogenic core and shorter flexible substituents (n = 2, 4) keeps the same smectic A (S_A) phase, but other polymers with longer terminal flexible substituents (n = 6, 8, 10, and 12) can develop into a well‐defined S_C phase instead of S_A phase. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 505–514, 2009     

Postmodification of poly(9‐alkyl‐9H‐carbazole‐2,7‐diyl)s as a route to new main‐chain‐functionalized carbazole polymers

The postmodification of poly[9‐(2‐hexyldecyl)‐9H‐carbazole‐2,7‐diyl] ( P1 ) upon its reaction with N‐bromosuccinimide affords exclusive and full bromination of the 3,6‐positions of the carbazole repeat units to yield poly[3,6‐dibromo‐9‐(2‐hexyldecyl)‐9H‐carbazole‐2,7‐diyl] ( P2 ). Brominated polymer P2 can be used as a precursor for further functionalization at the 3,6‐positions with the desired functional group to afford other useful polymers. Polymer P2 has hence been reacted with copper(I) cyanide to afford poly[3,6‐dicyano‐9‐(2‐hexyldecyl)‐9H‐carbazole‐2,7‐diyl] ( P3 ). Full substitution of the bromide groups with nitrile‐functional groups has been achieved. The preparation and structural characterization of polymers P2 and P3 are presented together with studies on their electronic conjugation and photoluminescence properties. Cyclic voltammetry studies on polymer P3 indicate that the new polymer is easier to reduce (n‐dope) but more difficult to oxidize than its unsubstituted counterpart ( P1 ) as a result of the introduction of the electron‐withdrawing nitrile‐functional groups at the 3,6‐positions on the carbazole repeat units on the polymer chains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3336–3342, 2006     

Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers. I. Cholesterol-containing polymers and copolymers

An approach to the creation of thermotropic cholesterol-containing liquid crystalline polymers by the chemical binding of cholesterol molecules with side chains of comblike polymers is presented. This type of structure permits a decrease in the steric hindrances provided by the backbone chains for the purpose of realizing the liquid crystalline state. A number of new cholesteric esters of poly(N-methacryloyl-ω-aminocarbonic acid)s (PChMAA-n) with different side-chain lengths (n = 2–11) as well as a series of copolymers of ChMA-n with n-alkylacrylates and n-alkylmethacrylates have been synthesized. The experimental evidence of liquid crystalline structure formation in these polymers in glass, viscoelastic, and fluid states is discussed. Molecular and supermolecular structures of cholesterol-containing comblike polymers have been studied and the model of macromolecular packing in the liquid crystalline state is proposed. It is shown that the existence of a layered order of side methylene groups together with ordering of cholesterol groups is necessary to the production of the liquid crystalline state in these polymers.     

Novel thermotropic liquid crystalline‐cum‐photocrosslinkable polyvanillylidene alkyl/arylphosphate esters

A new class of linear unsaturated polyphosphate esters based on divanillylidene cyclohexanone possessing liquid crystalline‐cum‐photocrosslinkable properties have been synthesized from 2,6‐bis[n‐hydroxyalkyloxy(vanillylidene)]cyclohexanone [n = 6,8,10] with various alkyl/aryl phosphorodichloridates in chloroform at ambient temperature. The resultant polymers were characterized by intrinsic viscosity, FT‐IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P‐NMR spectroscopy. All the polymers showed anisotropic behavior under hot stage optical polarized microscope (HOPM). The liquid crystalline textures of the polymers became more transparent with increasing spacer length. The thermal behavior of the polymers was studied by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The T_g, T_m, and T_i of the polymers decreased with increasing flexible methylene chain. The photocrosslinking property of the polymer was investigated by UV light/UV spectroscopy; the crosslinking proceeds via 2π‐2π cycloaddition reactions of the divanillylidene exocyclic double bond of the polymer backbone. The pendant alkyloxy containing polymers show faster crosslinking than the pendant phenyloxy containing polymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5215–5226, 2004     

Amination of octafluoronaphthalene in liquid ammonia: 2,6- and 2,7-Diaminohexafluoronaphthalenes selective preparation

Monoamination of octafluoronaphthalene by liquid ammonia affords 2-aminoheptafluoronaphthalene mainly (isolated yield 85-90%). Diamination of octafluoronaphthalene or amination of 2-aminoheptafluoronaphthalene affords a mixture of isomeric 1,6-, 1,7-, 2,6-, and 2,7-diaminohexafluoronaphthalenes with considerable prevalence of the 2,7-isomer (∼70%), thus being the first example of the predominant substitution at position 7 in 2-substituted polyfluoronaphthalenes. The 2,7/2,6 ratio of 2-X-heptafluoronaphthalene (X = ⁻NH, NH₂ and NHAc) amination diminishes with the decrease of electron-donating effect of the substituent; 2,7-diaminohexafluoronaphthalene forms in the reactions of 2-aminoheptafluoronaphthalene or octafluoronaphthalene with excess of NaNH₂ in liquid ammonia and 2,6-diaminohexafluoronaphthalene—in the reaction of 2-acetylamidoheptafluoronaphthalene with liquid ammonia followed by acetylamido group hydrolysis. The method of the selective preparation of these diamines based on the reversible transformation of amino group and a convenient technique of their high purity isolation by complexation with crown ether have been elaborated.     

Influence of fluorinated substituent and terminal length on phase behavior of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymers with a biphenyl mesogen

A series of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymers, poly{2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl 4′‐hydroxy‐2‐vinylbiphenyl‐4‐carboxylate} (PF3Cm, where m is the number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy groups, and m = 1, 4, 6, and 8), the side chain of which contains a biphenyl core with a fluorocarbon substituent at one end and an alkoxy unit of varying length on the other end, were designed and successfully synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization. For comparison, poly{butyl 4′‐hydroxy‐2‐vinylbiphenyl‐4‐carboxylate} (PC4Cm), similar to PF3Cm but with a butyl group instead of the fluorocarbon substituent, was also prepared. Differential scanning calorimetric results reveal that the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the two series of polymers decrease as m increases and T_gs of the fluorocarbon‐substituted polymers are higher than those of the corresponding butyl‐substituted polymers. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements show that the mesophase structures of these polymers are dependent on the number of the carbon atoms in the fluorocarbon substituent and the property of the other terminal substituent. Polymers with fluorocarbon substituents enter into columnar nematic phases when m ≥ 4, whereas the polymer PF3C1 exhibits no liquid crystallinity. For polymers with butyl substituents, columnar nematic phases form when the number of carbon atoms at both ends of the side chain is not equal at high temperatures and disappear after the polymers are cooled to ambient temperature. However, when the polymer has the same number of carbon atoms at both ends of the side chain, a hexagonal columnar phase develops, and this phase remains after the polymer is cooled. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Arene C−H Activation at Aluminium(I): meta Selectivity Driven by the Electronics of SNAr Chemistry

The reactivity of the electron-rich anionic Al^I aluminyl compound K₂[(NON)Al]₂ (NON=4,5-bis(2,6-diisopropylanilido)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene) towards mono- and disubstituted arenes is reported. C−H activation chemistry with n-butylbenzene gives exclusively the product of activation at the arene meta position. Mechanistically, this transformation proceeds in a single step via a concerted Meisenheimer-type transition state. Selectivity is therefore based on similar electronic factors to classical S_NAr chemistry, which implies the destabilisation of transition states featuring electron-donating groups in either ortho or para positions. In the cases of toluene and the three isomers of xylene, benzylic C−H activation is also possible, with the product(s) formed reflecting the feasibility (or otherwise) of competing arene C−H activation at a site which is neither ortho nor para to a methyl substituent.     

LC-Polyimides. XIX. Chiral and thermotropic poly(esterimide)s based on N-(4′-caboxyphenyl)trimellitimide and novel chiral spacers

Starting from commercial S- or R-3-bromo-2-methylpropanol, several new spacer diols were prepared. These spacers were polycondensed with the acid chloride of N-(4′-carboxyphenyl)trimellitimide. The resulting poly(ester-imide)s were characterized by elemental analyses, viscosity measurements, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, DSC- and WAXD-measurements and optical microscopy. The poly(ester-imide)s derived from chiral, aliphatic spacers form layer structures in the solid state, but no liquid crystalline phase. With nonsymmetrical, nonchiral semialiphatic spacers, poly(ester-imide)s were obtained, which form a smectic E or H phase in the solid state, a smectic-A or -C phase in the melt, and a nematic phase, when the spacer possesses an odd number of CH₂ groups. The polycondensation of a chiral semialiphatic spacer yielded thermotropic poly(ester-imide)s with either S- or R-configuration. WAXD patterns measured with synchrotron radiation at various temperatures proved that a layer structure exists in the solid state (smectic-E^* or H^*) and a chiral smectic-A^* or -C^* phase plus a cholesteric phase in the melt. A 1 : 1 blend of the S- and R-polyesters was also studied, but did not show unusual features. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

New Architectures for Side Chain Liquid Crystalline Polymers with Chiral Smectic C Mesophases

All attempts at synthesizing side chain liquid crystalline polymers (SCLCPs) with chiral smectic C (s_c*) mesophases simply functionalize one terminal group of the mesogen with a chiral substituent and attach the other terminus to the polymer backbone through a spacer. If a s_c* mesophase is observed, it is usually in the less desirable s_c*-s_A phase sequence. We propose that SCLCPs with laterally attached (vs terminally attached) mesogens offer an ideal architecture for obtaining s_c* meso- phases. This is because extended mesogens symmetrically disubstituted with long n-alkoxy groups can be attached to the polymer backbone through a chiral spacer. Thus, mesogens which typically form the desirable s_c*-n phase sequence can be used, and the chiral group can be introduced at the center of the mesogen which should result in high values of spontaneous polarization. We are not only using mesogens which exhibit s_c*-n phase sequences, but are also attempting to induce smectic layering into laterally attached systems which typically form nematic mesophases by electron-donor-acceptor interactions and immiscible hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon components. Smectic layering was successfully induced in 2,5-bis[(4'-n-alkoxybenzoyl)oxy]toluenes when the n-alkoxy substituents were terminated with perfluorinated segments.     

Application of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to the study of semicrystalline polymers: Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

An infrared absorbance subtraction technique has been used to “isolate” bands in the composite spectrum of semicrystalline polymers according to their crystalline or amorphous character. Amorphous and crystalline spectra for annealed, melt-quenched, and solution-cast poly(ethylene terephthalate) have been separated. The spectra of the amorphous component show an increased intensity of bands associated with the trans configuration of oxygen about the C? C bond when the polymer is annealed. This increased “trans” band intensity reflects the increased proportion of trans structures as a result of annealing. The amorphous trans bands are shifted approximately 1–3 cm^?1 from their positions in the crystalline “trans” spectrum. The frequency shift of these bands can be attributed to the differences in chain interactions that exist in the amorphous phase and the crystalline lattice. We have also found that under identical anealing conditions the amorphous phase of the melt-quenched polymer contains an increased intensity of conformational trans bands compared to the sample cast from solution.     

High‐molecular‐weight side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyethers based on 4′‐cyanobiphenyl‐4‐oxy mesogenic groups

A set of poly[ω‐(4′‐cyano‐4‐biphenyloxy)alkyl‐1‐glycidylether]s were synthesized by the chemical modification of the corresponding poly(ω‐bromoalkyl‐1‐glycidylether)s with the sodium salt of 4‐cyano‐4′‐hydroxybiphenyl. New high‐molecular‐weight side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polymers were obtained with excellent yield and almost quantitative degree of modification. All side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polymers were rubbers soluble in tetrahydrofuran. The characterization by ¹H and ¹³C NMR revealed no changes in the regioregular isotactic microstructure of the starting polymer and the absence of undesirable side reactions such as deshydrobromination. The liquid crystalline behavior was analyzed by DSC and polarized optical microscopy, and mesophase assignments were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. Polymers that had alkyl spacers with n = 2 and 4 were nematic, those that had spacers with n = 6 and 8 were nematic cybotactic, and those that had longer spacers (n = 10 and 12) were smectic C and showed some crystallization of the side alkyl chains. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3002–3012, 2004     

Synthesis of comb‐type polycarbosilanes via nucleophilic substitution reactions on the main‐chain silicon atoms

A series of comb‐type polycarbosilanes of the type [Si(CH₃)(OR)CH₂]_n {where R = (CH₂)_mR′, R′ = ? O‐p‐biphenyl? X [X = H (m = 3, 6, 8, or 11) or CN (m = 11)], and R′ = (CF₂)₇CF₃ (m = 4)} were prepared from poly(chloromethylsilylenemethylene) by reactions with the respective hydroxy‐terminated side chains in the presence of triethylamine. The product side‐chain polymers were typically greater than 90% substituted and, for R′ = ? O‐p‐biphenyl? X derivatives, they exhibited phase transitions between 27 and 150 °C involving both crystalline and liquid‐crystalline phases. The introduction of the polar p‐CN substituent to the biphenyl mesogen resulted in a substantial increase in both the isotropization temperature and the liquid‐crystalline phase range with respect to the corresponding unsubstituted biphenyl derivative. For R = (CH₂)₁₁? O‐biphenyl side chains, an analogous side‐chain liquid‐crystalline (SCLC) polysiloxane derivative of the type [Si(CH₃)(O(CH₂)₁₁? O‐biphenyl)O]_n was prepared by means of a catalytic dehydrogenation reaction. In contrast to the polycarbosilane bearing the same side chain, this polymer did not exhibit any liquid‐crystalline phases but melted directly from a crystalline phase to an isotropic liquid at 94 °C. Similar behavior was observed for the polycarbosilane with a fluorocarbon chain, for which a single transition from a crystalline phase to an isotropic liquid was observed at ?0.7 °C. The molecular structures of these polymers were characterized by means of gel permeation chromatography and high‐resolution NMR studies, and the crystalline and liquid‐crystalline phases of the SCLC polymers were identified by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 984–997, 2003     

Morphological alignment of liquid crystalline conducting polyacetylene derivatives

We have synthesized novel liquid crystalline conducting polymers by introducing liquid crystalline group into acetylene monomer and polymerizing them with Ziegler-Natta [Fe(acac)₃ - AlEt₃] and metathesis [M0Cl₅ - Ph₄Sn] catalysts. The liquid crystalline group is composed of a phenylcyclohexyl (PCH) or biphenyl (BP) moiety as a mesogenic core, a trimethylene chain [-(CH₂)₃-] as a spacer, and an alkyl chain (-C_nH_2n+1, n = 2, 3, 5 ∼ 8) as a terminal group. The polymers are abbreviated as PPCHn03A and PBPn03A. All polymers prepared exhibited solubility in organic solvents and smectic liquid crystallinity characterized with fan-shaped texture in polarizing optical microscopy. Phase transitions and the corresponding enthalpy changes were also evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Macroscopic alignments of the polymers were performed in the liquid crystalline phase by shear-stress or magnetic force field of 0.7 − 1.0 tesla, which resulted in an enhancement by two orders in electrical conductivity of iodine-doped cast films. Changes of the electronic and geometrical structures of the polymer upon the iodine-doping were elucidated by examining the effective conjugation length of a polyene chain, cis and trans thermal isomerization, and spin distribution of unpaired electrons through ultraviolet / visible (UV-Vis) and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements.