| Abstract: | Poly(phenylenevinylene)‐based conjugated polymers with azobenzene groups in the main chains were prepared by the Pd‐catalyzed coupling polymerization of divinylarenes with dihaloarenes. The Pd‐catalyzed coupling polymerization of 4,4′‐divinylazobenzene with dihaloarenes such as 1,3‐dibromobenzene, 1,4‐dibromo‐2,5‐dihexylbenzene, 4,4′‐dibromoazobenzene, and 4,4′‐diiodoazobenzene resulted in polymers with poor solubility. In contrast, soluble polymers containing azobenzene moieties in the main chains were attainable from divinylbenzenes with 4,4′‐dihaloazobenzenes if either or both of the monomers possessed hexyl groups on the aromatic rings. The number‐average molecular weight of the polymer exceeded 10,000 under optimized conditions, and the polymer showed a remarkably redshifted absorption in the visible region (456 nm). 1H NMR and IR spectra supported that the polymers having only trans‐geometry for the double bonds. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1057–1063, 2000 |
