Synthesis of planar poly(p-phenylene) derivatives for maximization of extended π-conjugation

Described is the synthesis of a ladder polymer with a poly(p-phenylene) (PPP) backbone. The main PPP backbone was synthesized via palladium-catalyzed coupling of an arylbis(boronic ester) with an aryl dibromide. Imine bridges, formed by exposure of the polymer to trifluoroacetic acid, are used to force the consecutive units into planarity. The bridging units are sp² hybridized thus allowing for greater π-electron flow between the consecutive phenyl units by lowering the band gap between the hydroquinoidal and the quinoidal forms of the phenylene backbone. When the bridges are n-dodecyl substituted, the fully planar structures (with Mn < 5 000) are soluble in hot chlorobenzene from which flexible free standing films can be cast. The n-butyl substituted polymers and the higher molecular weight n-dodecyl substituted polymers are soluble in CH₂Cl₂/trifluoroacetic acid mixtures. The optical spectra of the planar systems are compared to that of the parent nonplanarized polymers, some analogous planar oligomers, and oligo(p-phenylenes).     

Formation of quinoid fragments in vacuum-deposited poly-para-phenylene films: IR spectroscopy evidence

The structure of vacuum-deposited poly-para-phenylene (PPP) films prepared from a high-molecular-weight PPP powder has been investigated by IR spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that in IR spectra of PPP films exhibiting intense luminescence an extremely strong band at 1375 cm⁻¹ is observed, which is not typical for currently known PPP modifications. Based on the IR spectral data, the model of formation of a PPP chain with quinoid fragments in the ground electronic state is proposed. The structure of defects that inevitably spring up during the benzenoid–quinoid transition is discussed. High intensity of the band at 1375 cm⁻¹ is associated with the change in the order of the “defect” C C bond between adjacent quinoid and benzenoid units. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1043–1052, 1998     

π-Conjugated Macrocycles Bearing Angle-Strained Alkynes

Angle-strained alkyne-containing π-conjugated macrocycles are attractive compounds both in functional materials chemistry and biochemistry. Their interesting reactivity as well as photophysical and supramolecular properties have been revealed in the past three decades. This review highlights the recent advances in angle-strained alkyne-containing π-conjugated macrocycles, especially their synthetic methods, the bond angles of alkynes (∠_sp at C≡C−C), and their functions. The theoretical and experimental research on cyclo[n]carbons and para-cyclophynes consisting of ethynylenes and para-phenylenes are mainly summarized. Related macrocycles bearing other linkers, such as ortho-phenylenes, meta-phenylenes, heteroaromatics, biphenyls, extended aromatics, are also overviewed. Bond angles of strained alkynes in π-conjugated macrocycles, which are generable, detectable, and isolable, are summarized at the end of this review.     

Facile Processing of Unsubstituted π-Conjugated Aromatic Polymers through Water-solubilization Using Aromatic Micelles

π-Conjugated aromatic polymers (πCAPs) are central components of functional materials yet suffer from insolubility without multiple covalent substituents on their backbones. We herein disclose a new strategy for the facile processing of unsubstituted heterocyclic πCAPs (i.e., poly(para-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) and poly(benzimidazobenzo-phenanthroline)), independent of the polymer length, via non-covalent encircling with aromatic micelles, composed of bent aromatic amphiphiles, in water. The UV/Visible studies reveal that the efficiencies of the present encircling method are ≈10 to 50-fold higher than those using conventional amphiphiles under the same conditions. The AFM and SEM analyses of the resultant aqueous polymer composites show that otherwise insoluble πCAPs form fine bundles (e.g., ≈1 nm in thickness) in the tubular aromatic micelles, through efficient π-stacking interactions. In the same way, pristine poly(para-phenylene) can be dissolved in water, displaying enhanced fluorescence (10-fold), relative to the polymer solid. Two types of unsubstituted πCAPs are likewise co-encircled in water, indicated by UV/Visible analysis. Importantly, aqueous processing of the encircled πCAPs into free-standing single- or multicomponent films with submicrometer thickness is demonstrated through a simple filtration-annealing protocol.     

Formation of poly-p-phenylene thin films and their composites with fullerene by discrete evaporation in vacuum

The effect of parameters of discrete evaporation of poly-p-phenylene (PPP) and C₆₀ on quality of the films formed was studied, PPP and PPP/C₆₀ composite films and heterostructures based on these materials were prepared. It was established that the conjugation length of PPP macromolecules consists of –9–10 units, and they can be electrochemically transformed into the radical cation state at a potential of 2.10 V. Glassy carbon-PPP-C₆₀-Al heterostructures with a rectification ratio of 10⁶–10⁸ were formed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No, 12, pp, 2918–2921, December, 1996.     

Synthesis of soluble poly(para‐phenylene) with a long polymer chain: Characteristics of regioregular poly(1,4‐phenylene)

Soluble poly(para‐phenylene) having a long polymer chain (more than six repeat units) was synthesized with a tert‐butyl end‐group (t‐PPP) and was found to have improved solubility and excellent optical properties. Poly(1,3‐cyclohexadiene) (PCHD) consisting of only 1,4‐cyclohexadiene (1,4‐CHD) units was synthesized with a tert‐butyl end‐group (t‐PCHD), and completely dehydrogenated to obtain t‐PPP. This end‐group effectively prevented the crystallization of t‐PPP, and polymers containing up to 16 repeat units were soluble in tetrahydrofuran. Soluble t‐PPP obtained had an ability to form a tough thin film prepared by spin‐coating method. Optical analyses of t‐PPP provided strong evidence for a linear polymer chain structure. A block copolymer of t‐PPP and a soluble polyphenylene (PPH) was then synthesized, and the excellent optical properties were retained by this block copolymer along with its solubility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5223–5231, 2008     

Para-Xylylenes and analogues by base-induced elimination from 1,4-bis-(dialkylsulfoniomethyl)arene salts in poly(1,4-arylene vinylene) synthesis by the wessling soluble precursor method

para-Xylylenes are generated by treatment of various 1,4-bis(dialkylsulfoniomethyl)arene dihalides with base in water, methanol, and aqueous acetonitrile, as shown by UV-Vis spectroscopy. This procedure allows the monitoring of the transient xylylene monomers that yield polyelectrolyte precursor polymers for poly(arylene vinylene)s, formed by variations of the chemistry developed originally by Wessling and co-workers. Alkoxy, alkyl, and halogen ring substituents on the sulfonium salt precursors do not greatly affect the ability to generate and observe the growth and decay of steady-state concentrations of the para-xylylene intermediates. Use of strong resonance-acceptor substituents—such as cyano or nitro—on the ring reduces production of a strong para-xylylene absorption, possibly due to reluctance of the ylides initially formed from the bis-sulfonium salts to eliminate to the xylylenes. By variation of UV-Vis conditions, it was found that use of 20% aqueous acetonitrile rather than water allowed formation of low to modest molecular weight polyelectrolytes in cyano-substituted cases (M_w = 8000–37,000). Use of UV-Vis test experiments should be useful for screening of bis sulfonium salt precursors that may be expected to give high molecular weight polyelectrolytes—in cases where para-xylylene formation is easy—as well as for finding reaction conditions that will optimize polymer formation. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electrochemical preparation of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylene) thin films

We report the electrochemical preparation of poly(p-phenylene) (PPP) thin films with a polymerization degree of approximately 20 using biphenyl as starting material. The PPP films are prepared directly on a tin oxide electrode, presenting a positive charge carrier mobility of 5×10⁻⁷ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Preparation and photolysis of poly-p-ethylacrylophenone and poly-p-chloroacrylophenone and their copolymers with styrene and methyl methacrylate

Poly-p-ethylacrylophenone (PPEtAP) and poly-p-chloroacrylophenone (PPClAP) and their copolymers with styrene (PEtAP/S) and (PClAP/S) and with methyl methacrylate (PEtAP/MMA) and (PClAP/MMA) were prepared. Quantum yields of main-chain scissions at 366 nm at room temperature in benzene solution are of the same order as those of the unsubstituted polyacrylophenone and its copolymers. Substitution with chlorine and ethyl group in the para position compared to the unsubstituted polyacrylophenone and its copolymers leads to an increase of the lifetime for the n–π^* excited triplet state, as is evident from the measured quenching constants of photolysis. The low-temperature emission spectra of the copolymers are similar to the spectra of the model compounds in a polymer film. For the homopolymer, however, the character of the emission spectrum changes considerably.     

Silver(I) Coordination in Silver(I)-Mediated Homo Base Pairs of 6-Pyrazolylpurine in DNA Duplexes Involves the Watson–Crick Edge

DNA duplexes comprising 6-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-9H-purine (6PP), 1-deaza-6PP (^1D6PP), 7-deaza-6PP (^7D6PP) and 1,7-dideaza-6PP (^1,7D6PP) 2′-deoxyribonucleosides, respectively, were investigated towards their ability to form metal-mediated base pairs in the presence of Ag^I. In 6PP and ^7D6PP, the Ag^I ion can coordinate to the nucleobase via the endocyclic N1 nitrogen atom, that is, via the Watson–Crick edge. In contrast, this nitrogen atom is not available in ^1D6PP and ^1,7D6PP, so that in ^1D6PP an Ag^I coordination is only possible via the Hoogsteen edge (N7). Reference duplexes with either adenine:adenine mispairs or canonical adenine:thymine base pairs were used to investigate the impact of the pyrazolyl moiety on the Ag^I-binding properties. To determine the thermal and structural duplex stabilities in the absence or presence of Ag^I, all duplexes were examined by UV and circular dichroism spectroscopic studies. These investigations shed light on the question of whether N1- or N7-coordination is preferred in purine-based metal-mediated base pairs.     

Electrical,thermal, and photo properties of poly(phenylene vinylene) precursors: I. Laser-induced elimination reactions in precursor polymer films

The elimination reaction of polyelectrolyte films of poly(phenylene vinylene) precursor polymers into the fully conjugated chain was induced by irradiation with an Ar⁺ laser emitting at 514.5 nm. The experiments were conducted using as cast precursor polyelec-trolyte films of both the unsubstituted poly(phenylene vinylene), H-PPV, and its 2,5-dimethoxyphenylene derivative, DMEO-PPV. Precursor polymer films impregnated with an azosulfonic dye, which had a strong absorption at the laser emission wavelength, were also irradiated. The elimination reaction was followed by comparing the elemental analysis and the infrared and visibleultraviolet spectra of the irradiated and nonirradiated areas. With the unsubstituted PPV film no elimination was detected even at power fluence levels up to approximately 350 W/cm^-2, but elimination and conversion to the conjugated polymer could be observed at 10 W/cm^-2 when the dye was present. For DMEO-PPV the elimination reaction occurred with or without dye impregnation, and similar marking threshold values were measured in both cases. The molecular mechanism used to explain such observations and the possible application in the area of microelectronics are also discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conformational Dependence of Triplet Energies in Rotationally Hindered N- and S-Heterocyclic Dimers: New Design and Measurement Rules for High Triplet Energy OLED Host Materials

A series of four heterocyclic dimers has been synthesized, with twisted geometries imposed across the central linking bond by ortho-alkoxy chains. These include two isomeric bicarbazoles, a bis(dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide) and a bis(thioxanthene-S,S-dioxide). Spectroscopic and electrochemical methods, supported by density functional theory, have given detailed insights into how para- vs. meta- vs. broken conjugation, and electron-rich vs. electron-poor heterocycles impact the HOMO–LUMO gap and singlet and triplet energies. Crucially for applications as OLED hosts, the triplet energy (E_T) of these molecules was found to vary significantly between dilute polymer films and neat films, related to conformational demands of the molecules in the solid state. One of the bicarbazole species shows a variation in E_T of 0.24 eV in the different media—sufficiently large to “make-or-break” an OLED device—with similar discrepancies found between neat films and frozen solution measurements of other previously reported OLED hosts. From consolidated optical and optoelectronic investigations of different host/dopant combinations, we identify that only the lower E_T values measured in neat films give a reliable indicator of host/guest compatibility. This work also provides new molecular design rules for obtaining very high E_T materials and controlling their HOMO and LUMO energies.     

Mesostructured Dye‐Doped Titanium Dioxide for Micro‐Optoelectronic Applications

Optically transparent, mesostructured titanium dioxide thin films were fabricated using an amphiphilic poly(alkylene oxide) block copolymer template in combination with retarded hydrolysis of a titanium isopropoxide precursor. Prior to calcination, the films displayed a stable hexagonal mesophase and high refractive indices (1.5 to 1.6) relative to mesostructured silica (1.43). After calcination, the hexagonal mesophase was retained with surface areas >300 m² g^?1. The dye Rhodamine 6G (commonly used as a laser dye) was incorporated into the copolymer micelle during the templating process. In this way, novel dye‐doped mesostructured titanium dioxide films were synthesised. The copolymer not only directs the film structure, but also provides a solubilizing environment suitable for sustaining a high monomer‐to‐aggregate ratio at elevated dye concentrations. The dye‐doped films displayed optical thresholdlike behaviour characteristic of amplified spontaneous emission. Soft lithography was successfully applied to micropattern the dye‐doped films. These results pave the way for the fabrication and demonstration of novel microlaser structures and other active optical structures. This new, high‐refractive index, mesostructured, dye‐doped material could also find applications in areas such as optical coatings, displays and integrated photonic devices.     

Phosphido‐diphosphine pincer aluminum complexes as catalysts for ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

New aluminum alkyl complexes, supported by o‐phenylene‐derived phosphido diphosphine pro‐ligands [Ph‐PPP]‐H and [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H ([Ph‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine; [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diisopropylphosphinophenyl)phosphine) are reported. Compounds [Ph‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 1 ), [ⁱPr‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 2 ), and [Ph‐PPP]AlⁱBu₂ ( 3 ) have been synthesized by reaction of the pro‐ligand with the appropriate trialkyl aluminum precursor and have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The solution NMR data and theoretical calculations suggest for all complexes trigonal bipyramidal structures with C_2v symmetry in which the phosphido diphosphine ligand acts as a κ³ coordinated ligand. All complexes promote the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, L‐ and rac‐lactide. Polyesters with controlled molecular parameters (M_n, end groups) and low polydispersities are obtained. Upon addition of isopropanol, efficient binary catalytic systems for the immortal ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic esters are produced. Preliminary investigations show the ability of these complexes to promote copolymerization of l ‐lactide and ?‐caprolactone to achieve copolymers whose microstructures are depending on the structure of the catalyst. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 49–60     

Influence of silicon atoms on the π-conjugation in electroluminescent polymers

By means of the valence effective Hamiltonian (VEH) method, we calculated the electronic structure for a polymer containing poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and dimethoxy-poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) units as well as silicon atoms used as spacers. The equilibrium geometry was obtained by an AM1 calculation. We obtained a band gap of 3.2 eV, which corresponds to emittance in the blue part of the spectrum. This polymer is used as the active layer in light-emitting diodes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Syntheses and characterizations of aniline/butylthioaniline copolymers: Comparisons of copolymers prepared by the new concurrent reduction and substitution route and the conventional oxidative copolymerization method

New highly solution‐processable aniline/butylthioaniline copolymers were prepared via oxidative copolymerization (OCP) and by concurrent reduction and substitution (CRS). Butylthio‐substituted polyaniline obtained via the CRS route (Pan‐SBu), being in line with the expected property changes after the addition of an electron‐donating substituent to an aromatic ring, displayed a lowered redox potential (E⁰) and a redshifted maximum wavelength (λ_max; ultraviolet–visible) in comparison with its parent unsubstituted polyaniline (Pan). However, copolymers CP1–CP4 (obtained via the OCP method) displayed opposite behaviors, showing higher E⁰ values and blueshifts in λ_max than the unsubstituted Pan. The results suggested that CP1–CP4 had shorter conjugation lengths than the unsubstituted Pan, possibly because of their chain conjugation defects (e.g., 1,3‐ring linkage structures), as evidenced by IR studies. The results of ¹H NMR studies also indicated that Pan‐SBu had much higher structural homogeneity than copolymer CP4. Because the CRS synthetic route involved no backbone alternations, the resultant copolymer (Pan‐SBu) should have maintained the same backbone structure and hence the high conductivity of the parent unsubstituted Pan. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1767–1777, 2005     

Chemical deposition of smooth nanocrystalline Y2O3 films from solutions of metal-organic precursors

A series of (Y(AcO)₃·4H₂O—Q—Solv) solutions (Q is monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), en, dien; Solv = MeOH, EtOH, Pr_iOH, BuOH) was studied to choose the metal-organic precursor for surface smoothing treatment of metallic tapes by chemical deposition of nanocrystalline yttria films. Based on the results of viscosity, wetting angle, and thermal stability measurements, a solution (Y(AcO)₃·4H₂O—dien—PrⁱOH) was proposed as a new metal-organic precursor. After chemical deposition of nanocrystalline yttria films about 300 nm thick on a Hastelloy C-276 metallic tape the surface roughness was reduced by a factor of 11 (from 9.0 to 0.8 nm on a surface area of 5×5 μm²).     

Synthesis and electroconductivities of poly(2-methoxy-5-methythio-1,4-phenylene vinylene) and copolymers

Poly(2-methoxy-5-methylthio-1,4-phenylene vinylene), PMTPV, and copolymers containing both unsubstituted or 2,5-dimethoxy-substituted and 2-methoxy-5-methylthio-1,4-phenylene vinylene units were prepared in thin films from their water-soluble, sulfonium salt precursor polymers. Doping of drawn and undrawn films of PMTPV with I₂ vapor led to conductivities of 10^?4–10^?3 S cm^?1, which is significantly lower than those reported for poly(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene vinylene). Conductivity of I₂-doped copolymer films ranges from 10^?3–10⁰ S cm^?1 depending on composition.     

Quadratic hyperpolarizabilities of nitro-substituted pseudo-linear dye molecules with ethylenic and azo bridges

Second-order hyperpolarizabilities (β) and gas-phase transition energies (E) of the para-disubstituted benzene, stilbene and azobenzene derivatives are calculated by the semi-empirical self-consistent-field molecular orbit (SCF MO) method in the Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) approximation using a sum-over-state's procedure with singly excited states. The calculated zero-frequency β (β⁰_VEC) values for all the derivatives are directly proportional to their 1/E² values. The usefulness of mixing ethylenic and azo bridges in long π-conjugated molecules is proposed in order to obtain large β values, by taking the difference between the electronic natures of these bridges into account. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and characterization of close-packed nanostructured sol–gel ceria thin films prepared using cerium-sec-butoxide as precursor

Polycrystalline, close-packed, homogeneous nanostructured ceria thin films were prepared by sol–gel process via dip-coating technique on soda-lime glass and (100)-oriented Si substrates. To produce the films, a sol was prepared using, as precursor, a home made cerium sec-butoxide dissolved in secondary butanol. The chemical composition, the microstructural/morphological characteristics and the optical properties of the coatings were investigated in detail. The experimental results clearly demonstrate that the ceria films are nanocrystalline (CeO₂, cubic phase \textFm[`3]\textm {\text{Fm}}\bar{3}{\text{m}} ) with an average grain size of about 2–3 nm for the samples grown on glass and of about 4–5 nm for the samples grown on silicon. The analyses of ceria layers grown on silicon show that the ceria coatings are free from organic residues and that a Si-oxide layer is formed at the film/substrate interface. The optical results evidence a red shift of the energy gap of about 0.5 eV that can be ascribed to conversion of relevant Ce⁴⁺ sites to Ce³⁺ sites and a consequent creation of oxygen vacancy at the surface of the ceria grains.