Quadrupolar donor–acceptor substituted oligo(phenylenevinylene)s—synthesis and solvatochromism of the fluorescence

Abstract

AbstractThe electronic spectra of oligo(phenylenevinylene)s with five benzene rings and an acceptor–donor–acceptor substitution pattern were investigated. Although the absorption spectra are mostly unaffected by an increasing solvent polarity, both bathochromic shifts and reduced efficiencies of the fluorescence arise with the quadrupolar electronic structure. The chromophores with the lowest oxidation or reduction potentials are the most sensitive towards the environment. The synthesis of the centrosymmetrical oligomers was performed in a sequence of two two‐fold Wittig–Horner olefinations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.