Synthesis and characterization of a novel AlQ3‐containing polymer

In this article, the synthesis of a tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (AlQ₃)‐containing poly(arylene ether) (4) is reported. The presence of AlQ₃ pendants in polymer 4 is confirmed by NMR, ultraviolet–visible, photoluminescence, and gel permeation chromatography analyses. This is the first report of the attachment of AlQ₃ complexes as side chains to a polymer. Polymer 4 has a glass‐transition temperature of 217.8 °C and is thermally stable with a 5% weight‐loss temperature greater than 500 °C under nitrogen, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses, respectively. Polymer 4 is quite soluble in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and CHCl₃. A composite that is 80 wt % polymer 4 and 20 wt % AlQ₃ forms a transparent and tough film when cast from its chloroform solution. The application of this AlQ₃‐containing polymer in light‐emitting diodes is under investigation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2887–2892, 2000