Synthesis of a novel bis‐spiroorthoester containing 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenantrene‐10‐oxide as a substituent: Homopolymerization and copolymerization with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A

A new bis‐spiroorthoester‐containing monomer, bis[(1,4,6‐trioxaspiro‐[4.4]‐nonan‐2‐yl)‐methyl] 2‐[10‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenantrene‐10‐oxide‐10‐yl)] maleate (SOE‐DOPOMA), was synthesized with good yields by an esterification reaction with a hydroxylated spiroorthoester (2‐hydroxymethyl‐1,4,6‐trioxaspiro‐[4.4]‐nonane) and a phosphorus‐containing diacid {2‐[10‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenantrene‐10‐ oxide‐10‐yl)] maleic acid}, both of which were previously synthesized. SOE‐DOPOMA was characterized with ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. This new spiroorthoester was crosslinked with ytterbium triflate as a cationic initiator. A mixture of SOE‐DOPOMA and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A was also crosslinked under the same conditions. The curing was studied with differential scanning calorimetry and monitored with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The materials were characterized with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermodynamomechanical analysis. The shrinkage effect on cationic crosslinking was assessed with gas pycnometry, and the flame‐retardant properties were determined with limiting oxygen index measurements. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1980–1992, 2007.     

Synthesis and Mesomorphic Behavior of 3‐Alkyl‐2,5‐ bis[p‐(hexa‐2,4‐dienoyloxy)phenyl]‐Thiophene Derivatives

3‐Alkyl‐2,5‐bis[p‐(hexa‐2,4‐dienoyloxy)phenyl]‐thiophene derivatives were synthesized by using Kumada coupling and Suzuki coupling reactions as key steps. The thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior of these compounds was investigated by optical polarized microscopy, monotropic nematic mesophases were observed in such compounds.     

Liquid‐crystalline thermosets by the curing of dimeric liquid‐crystalline epoxyimine monomers with 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate

We studied the curing processes of several series of dimeric liquid‐crystalline epoxyimine monomers with 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI) alone or with added catalytic proportions of 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)pyridine. We obtained isotropic materials or liquid‐crystalline thermosets with different degrees of order, which depended on the structures of the monomers. To fix ordered networks, we had to do the curing in two steps when TDI was used alone as the curing agent. However, when a tertiary amine was added in catalytic proportions, the ordered networks were fixed in just one step. In this way, we were able to fix both nematic and smectic mesophases. The significance of the polarization of the mesogen for obtaining liquid‐crystalline thermosets was demonstrated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2521–2530, 2003     

Epoxy resins from novel monomers with a bis‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐oxide‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐yl‐) substituent

A new diepoxide and a new diamine, both bearing bis‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐oxide‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐yl‐)‐substituted methylene linkages, were prepared through the reaction of 9,10‐dihydro‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide with benzophenone derivatives via a simple addition reaction followed by a dehydration reaction. These two compounds were used as monomers for preparing cured epoxy resins with high phosphorus contents. The resultant epoxy resins showed high glass‐transition temperatures (between 131 and 196 °C). All of the cured epoxy resins exhibited high thermal stability, with 5% weight loss temperatures over 316 °C, and excellent flame retardancy, with limited oxygen index values of 37–50. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 359–368, 2002     

Heteroarene‐fused π‐conjugated main‐chain polymers containing 4,7‐bis(4‐octylthiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole or 2,5‐bis(4‐octylthiophen‐2‐yl)thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole and their application to photovoltaic devices

Two conjugated main‐chain polymers consisting of heteroarene‐fused π‐conjuagted donor moiety alternating with 4,7‐bis(5‐bromo‐4‐octylthiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (P1) or 2,5‐bis(5‐bromo‐4‐octylthiophen‐2‐yl) thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole (P2) units have been synthesized. They are intrinsically amorphous in nature and do not exhibit crystalline melting temperatures during thermal analysis. The effect of the fused rings on the thermal, optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties of these polymers has been investigated. The polymer (P1) containing 4,7‐bis(5‐bromo‐4‐octylthiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[c][1,2,5] thiadiazole has a broad absorption extending from 300 to 600 nm with optical bandgaps as low as 2.02 eV. The HOMO levels (5.42 to 5.29 eV) are more sensitive to the choice of acceptor. The polymers were employed to fabricate organic photovoltaic cells with methanofullerene [6,6]‐phenyl C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM). As a result, the polymer solar cell device containing P1 had the best preliminary results with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.61 V, a short‐circuit current density of 6.19 mA/cm², and a fill factor of 0.32, offering an overall power conversion efficiency of 1.21%. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Photodegradation‐induced photoluminescence behaviors of π‐conjugated polymers upon the doping of organometallic triplet emitters

The different effects on the photodegradation‐induced photoluminescence (PL) of π‐conjugated polymeric thin films upon the doping of Ir(III) containing triplet emitters in ambient conditions at room temperature were investigated. In this study, we prepared spin‐coated thin films using three different polymer matrices including poly(9‐vinylcarbazole) (PVK), poly[9,9‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)fluorene‐2,7‐diyl] (PF2/6), and poly[2‐(5′‐cyano‐5′‐methyl‐hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene] (CNPPP) derivatives doped with Ir(III) containing triplet emitters: Ir(III) bis[(4,6‐fluorophenyl)‐pyridinato‐N,C²′] picolinate (FIrpic), or Ir(III)fac‐tris(2‐phenylpyridine) (Ir(ppy)₃), or Ir(III)bis(2‐(2′‐benzothienyl) pyridinato‐N‐acetylacetonate) (Ir(btp)₂acac). Using the doped films, and their neat films, on quartz substrates, the UV‐Visible absorption (UV‐Vis) and PL spectra were recorded under continuous illumination with the excitation wavelengths at the absorption maxima of the corresponding matrix polymers. The dopant effects on the photodegradation‐induced PL were extracted from the kinetic data obtained from the doped films by subtracting the mutual degradation kinetics of their corresponding neat films. The obtained dopant effects show a strong correlation between the photo‐induced PL degradation and the exciton migration behaviors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2395–2403, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of a thermotropic liquid‐crystalline poly[2,5‐bis(4′‐alkoxycarbonylphenyl) styrene]

We report the synthesis and characterization of a series of novel mesogen‐jacketed liquid‐crystalline polymers, poly[2,5‐bis(4′‐alkoxycarbonylphenyl)styrene]s ( 1‐m , where m is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl tails), along with the corresponding monomers, 2,5‐bis(4′‐alkoxycarbonylphenyl)styrenes ( 2‐m ), and their precursors, 2,5‐bis(4′‐alkoxycarbonylphenyl)toluenes ( 3‐m ). The influence of the tail length on the thermotropic properties of the two types of low‐molecular‐mass compounds and macromolecules was investigated with a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction techniques. Except for compound 3‐3 , which exhibited a monotropic nematic phase, all members of the low‐molar‐mass molecules developed no mesophase during both heating and cooling processes. The glass‐transition temperatures of the polymers decreased as the tail lengths increased. The 5% weight loss temperatures of all the polymers under a nitrogen atmosphere were above 360 °C, indicating quite high thermal stability. Although polymers 1‐1 and 1‐2 were non‐liquid‐crystalline, columnar nematic phases were observed for the remaining homopolymers with longer alkyl tails. The mesophases of 1‐3 to 1‐9 that developed at high temperatures remained upon cooling to room temperature, whereas those of 1‐10 to 1‐12 disappeared during the cooling process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 830–847, 2007.     

Liquid‐crystalline thermosets from mesogenic dimeric epoxy resins by tertiary amine catalysis

Liquid‐crystalline thermosets (LCTs) were prepared by the curing of difunctional liquid‐crystalline dimeric epoxy monomers with imine moieties in the mesogenic core and central spacers of different lengths. Tertiary amines were used as catalysts in different proportions. The locked mesophases of the LCTs were characterized by polarized optical microscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and identified as smectic‐C, regardless of their smectic‐A or smectic‐C initial state. The influence of a 7.1‐T magnetic field on the macroscopic orientation of these materials was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, and the orientation parameter was determined by IR dichroism. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3916–3926, 2002     

Flame‐retardant epoxy resins: An approach from organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites

Phosphorus‐containing epoxy‐based epoxy–silica hybrid materials with a nanostructure were obtained from bis(3‐glycidyloxy)phenylphosphine oxide, diaminodiphenylmethane, and tetraethoxysilane in the presence of the catalyst p‐toluenesulfonic acid via an in situ sol–gel process. The silica formed on a nanometer scale in the epoxy resin was characterized with Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and scanning electron microscopy. The glass‐transition temperatures of the hybrid epoxy resins increased with the silica content. The nanometer‐scale silica showed an enhancement effect of improving the flame‐retardant properties of the epoxy resins. The phosphorus–silica synergistic effect on the limited oxygen index (LOI) enhancement was also observed with a high LOI value of 44.5. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 986–996, 2001     

Molecular dynamics study of the stereostructure of 1,4‐linked poly(cyclohexa‐1,3‐diene) obtained with π‐allylnickel‐based catalysts

Temperature‐constant and pressure‐constant molecular dynamics simulations of crystalline 1,4‐linked poly(cyclohexa‐1,3‐diene) (CHD) were performed using the COMPASS force field. Powder X‐ray diffraction spectra calculated from the simulated atomic coordinates were compared with the measured spectrum of the crystal of 1,4‐linked poly(CHD), obtained using a bis(allylnickel bromide) (ANiBr)/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst. As a result of the comparison, the geometrical isomerism of the 1,4‐linked poly(CHD) obtained with the ANiBr/MAO catalyst was found to be cis syndiotactic. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 973–978, 2001     

Effects of diamines and their fluorinated groups on the color lightness and preparation of organosoluble aromatic polyimides from 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]‐hexafluoropropane

To investigate the position and amount of the CF₃ group affecting the coloration of polyimides (PIs), we prepared 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) with four CF₃ groups with 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride and 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenol)hexafluoropropane. A series of soluble and light‐colored fluorinated PIs ( 5 ) were synthesized from 2 and various aromatic dianhydrides ( 3a – 3f ). 5a – 5f had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.80 to 1.19 dL/g and were soluble in amide polar solvents and even in less polar solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures of 5 were 221–265 °C, and the 10% weight‐loss temperatures were above 493 °C. Their films had cutoff wavelengths between 343 and 390 nm, b* values (a yellowness index) ranging from 5 to 41, dielectric constants of 2.68–3.01 (1 MHz), and moisture absorptions of 0.03–0.29 wt %. In a comparison of the PI series 6 – 8 based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane, 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]propane, and 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, we found that the CF₃ group close to the imide group was more effective in lowering the color; this means that CF₃ of 5 , 7 , and 8f was more effective than that of 6c . The color intensity of the four PI series was lowered in the following order: 5 > 7 > 6 > 8 . The PI 5f , synthesized from diamine 2 and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride, had six CF₃ groups in a repeated segment, so it exhibited the lightest color among the four series. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 922–938, 2003     

Blue‐emitting poly(1,3‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives: Effect of substitution patterns on optical properties

Blue‐emitting poly{[5‐(diphenylamino)‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene]‐alt‐(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)} ( 3 ), poly{[5‐bis‐(4‐butyl‐phenylamino)‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene]‐alt‐(1,3‐phenylene vinylene)} ( 4 ), and poly(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene) ( 5 ) were synthesized by the Wittig–Horner reaction. Although polymers 3–5 possess fluorescent quantum yields of only 13–34% in tetrahydrofuran solution, their films appear to be highly luminescent. Attachments of substituents tuned the emission color of thin films to the desirable blue region (λ_max = 462–477 nm). Double‐layer light‐emitting‐diode devices with 3 and 5 as an emissive layer produced blue emission (λ_em = 474 and 477 nm) with turn‐on voltages of 8 and 11 V, respectively. The external quantum efficiencies were up to 0.13%. © 2005Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2800–2809, 2005     

Synthesis of poly(ethylene oxide) with pending 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl groups and its further initiation of the grafting polymerization of styrene

A new stratagem for the synthesis of amphiphilic graft copolymers of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) as the main chain and hydrophobic polystyrene as the side chains is suggested. A poly(ethylene oxide) with pending 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyls [poly(4‐glycidyloxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐co‐ethylene oxide)] was first prepared by the anionic ring‐opening copolymerization of ethylene oxide and 4‐glycidyloxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl, and then the graft copolymerization of styrene was completed with benzoyl peroxide as the initiator in the presence of poly(4‐glycidyloxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐co‐ethylene oxide). The polymerization of styrene was under control, and comblike, amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐g‐polystyrene was obtained. The copolymer and its intermediates were characterized with size exclusion chromatography, ¹H NMR, and electron spin resonance in detail. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3836–3842, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel liquid‐crystalline epoxy resin combining biphenyl and aromatic ester‐type mesogenic units

A novel liquid‐crystalline epoxy resin combining biphenyl and aromatic ester‐type mesogenic units, diglycidyl ether of 4,4′‐bis(4‐hydroxybenzoyloxy)‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl biphenyl, was synthesized. Its spectroscopic structure, thermal properties, and phase structures were investigated with NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and polarized light microscopy (PLM), respectively. The curing agent, diaminodiphenylsulfone, was chosen to investigate the curing behavior by means of DSC and PLM during isothermal and nonisothermal processes. Only one exothermal peak appeared in the isothermal DSC curves. Birefringence was also observed during the curing processes and preserved after postcuring. Compared with short rigid‐rod and flexible epoxies, the cured liquid‐crystalline epoxy resin that was obtained displayed special thermal stability according to thermogravimetric analysis because of its long rigid‐rod mesogenic unit and bulky methyl groups. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 727–735, 2007     

Synthesis and comparison of the structure–property relationships of symmetric and asymmetric water‐soluble poly(p‐phenylene)s

Sodium salts of water‐soluble polymers poly{[2,5‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]‐alt‐[2,5‐bis(hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]} ( P1 ), poly{[2,5‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]‐alt‐[2,5‐bis(dodecyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]} ( P2 ), poly{[2,5‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]‐alt‐[2,5‐bis(dibenzyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]} ( P3 ), poly[2‐hexyloxy‐5‐(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene] ( P4 ), and poly[2‐dodecyloxy‐5‐(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene] ( P5 )] were synthesized with Suzuki coupling reactions and fully characterized. The first group of polymers ( P1 – P3 ) with symmetric structures gave lower absorption maxima [maximum absorption wavelength (λ_max) = 296–305 nm] and emission maxima [maximum emission wavelength (λ_em) = 361–398 nm] than asymmetric polymers P4 (λ_max = 329 nm, λ_em = 399 nm) and P5 (λ_max = 335 nm, λ_em = 401 nm). The aggregation properties of polymers P1 – P5 in different solvent mixtures were investigated, and their influence on the optical properties was examined in detail. Dynamic light scattering studies of the aggregation behavior of polymer P1 in solvents indicated the presence of aggregated species of various sizes ranging from 80 to 800 nm. The presence of alkoxy groups and 3‐sulfonatopropoxy groups on adjacent phenylene rings along the polymer backbone of the first set hindered the optimization of nonpolar interactions. The alkyl chain crystallization on one side of the polymer chain and the polar interactions on the other side allowed the polymers ( P4 and P5 ) to form a lamellar structure in the polymer lattice. Significant quenching of the polymer fluorescence upon the addition of positively charged viologen derivatives or cytochrome‐C was also observed. The quenching effect on the polymer fluorescence confirmed that the newly synthesized polymers could be used in the fabrication of biological and chemical sensors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3763–3777, 2006     

Biodegradation of copolymers composed of optically active L‐lactide and (R)‐ or (S)‐1‐methyltrimethylene carbonate

Random copolymerizations of L ‐lactide with (R)‐, (S)‐, or rac‐1‐methyltrimethylene carbonate with bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) samarium‐methyl tetrahydrofuranate [(C₅Me₅)₂SmMe(THF)] as a novel initiator provided high molecular weight polymers with low polydispersities. Biodegradation of the resulting polymers with tricine and {N‐[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]‐2‐aminoethane sulfonic acid (TES) buffers as well as activated sludge showed only a small weight loss, whereas the polymer with proteinase K revealed high biodegradability independent of the optical activity of 1‐methyltrimethylene carbonate. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3916–3927, 2001     

Synthesis and nonlinear properties of poly[1,4‐bis(4‐alkylpyridinium)butadiyne triflate]

1,4‐Bis(4‐alkylpyridinium)butadiyne triflate ( 2a and 2b ) that was prepared by the reaction of 1,4‐bis(4‐pyridyl)butadiyne ( 1 ) with alkyl trifluoro‐methanesulfonate, was found to grow into a large crystal as a result of the quaternized structure. The thermal treatment of 2a and 2b gave rise to 1,4‐addition polymerization to yield the polydiacetylene. The third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibility [χ⁽³⁾] of the polymer was determined by the femto‐second Z‐scan method to exhibit the remarkable high value of 1.1 × 10^?11 esu at 650 nm. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3686–3691, 2001     

Synthesis,one‐ and two‐photon properties of poly[9,10‐bis(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl‐oxy)phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinylene‐alt‐N‐octyl‐3,6‐/2,7‐carbazolevinylene]

The synthesis, one‐ and two‐photon absorption (TPA) and emission properties of two novel 2,6‐anthracenevinylene‐based copolymers, poly[9,10‐bis(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinylene‐alt‐N‐octyl‐3,6‐carbazolevinyl‐ene] ( P1 ) and poly[9,10‐bis(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinyl‐ene‐alt‐N‐octyl‐2,7‐carbazolevinylene] ( P2 ) were reported. The as‐synthesized polymers have the number‐average molecular weights of 1.56 × 10⁴ for P1 and 1.85 × 10⁴ g mol^?1 for P2 and are readily soluble in common organic solvents. They emit strong bluish‐green one‐ and two‐photon excitation fluorescence in dilute toluene solution (? _P1 = 0.85, ? _P2 = 0.78, λ_em( P1 ) = 491 nm, λ_em( P2 ) = 483 nm). The maximal TPA cross‐sections of P1 and P2 measured by the two‐photon‐induced fluorescence method using femtosecond laser pulses in toluene are 840 and 490 GM per repeating unit, respectively, which are obviously larger than that (210 GM) of poly[9,10‐bis‐(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy) phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinylene], indicating that the poly(2,6‐anthracenevinylene) derivatives with large TPA cross‐sections can be obtained by inserting electron‐donating moieties into the polymer backbone. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 463–470, 2010     

New liquid‐crystalline thermosets from liquid‐crystalline bisazomethynic epoxy resins with naphthylene disruptors in the central core

We synthesized novel epoxy‐terminated monomers on the basis of imine groups with spacers of different lengths between mesogens and reactive groups and examined their mesogenic properties. Their reaction with primary aromatic diamines and tertiary amines was carried out to investigate the formation of liquid‐crystalline thermosets. We explored how the curing conditions and the structures of the monomers and amines affected the formation of ordered networks. The special symmetry of a 1,5‐disubstituted naphthalene unit in the central core led to nematic mesophases in the pure liquid‐crystalline epoxy resins, and thermosets with locked nematic textures were obtained in all cases, regardless of the length of the spacer. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1536–1544, 2003     

Chain composition dependence of luminescence properties for copolymers of 2‐methoxy‐5‐2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene and 2,3‐diphenyl‐5‐octyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene

The copolymers of 2‐methoxy‐5‐2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene (MEH‐PV) and 2,3‐diphenyl‐5‐octyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene were prepared via the Gilch route with their chain compositions and the reactivity ratios of the monomers estimated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that the copolymers tended to form an alternative copolymer as the feed ratio of the monomers closed to one‐half. When an individual copolymer solution in tetrahydrofuran was spun‐cast to form a film, the MEH‐PV units were able to attract the like units from the adjacent chains. As a result, the ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrum of the alternative copolymer in film form was broader than the spectra of those with different compositions. The photoluminescence spectra of the copolymers in film form exhibited the characteristic shoulder of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene), even though the content of MEH‐PV units was not great enough for the formation of repeat units in sequence. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2180–2186, 2003