Poly(triphenylamine)s derived from oxidative coupling reaction: Substituent effects on the polymerization, electrochemical, and electro‐optical properties

Abstract

AbstractA series of triphenylamine‐based polymers containing electron‐donating methoxy (OCH3) and electron‐withdrawing cyano or nitro (CN or NO2) substituents in the main chains have been designed and investigated. These conjugated polymers (P1–P3) could be readily prepared by oxidative coupling polymerization from monomers (M1–M3) using FeCl3 as an oxidant. The P2 and P3 exhibited moderate high Tg values (203–205 °C) and thermal stability. These polymers in NMP solution showed UV–vis absorption around 288–404 nm and photoluminescence peaks around 435–492 nm. P1–P3 showed reversible oxidation redox couples at Eonset = 0.67, 0.99, and 1.00 V in solution of 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP)/acetonitrile (CH3CN), respectively. M3 and P3 exhibited reversible reduction redox couples at Eonset = −1.04 and −1.03 V. These polymers also revealed electrochromic characteristic changing color at different potential. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 285–294, 2009