Synthesis and optical and electrochemical properties of novel polyethers containing isolated distyrylbenzene derivatives and side‐aromatic 1,3,4‐oxadiazole chromophores

Abstract

AbstractNew polyethers (P2, P4) with isolated emitting distyrylbenzene derivatives and pendant aromatic 1,3,4‐oxadiazole chromophores have been prepared by the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination reaction. Polyethers P1 and P3 without oxadiazole groups have also been synthesized for comparison. The reduced viscosities were about 0.20–0.33 dL/g, and the solubility in organic solvents increased with a number of side methoxy or ethoxy substituents in the distyrylbenzene section. Absorption spectra showed two peaks at 371–388 and 304 nm that corresponded to the π‐π* transition of the conjugated distyrylbenzene derivatives and aromatic oxadiazoles, respectively. The band gaps were at 2.76–2.85 eV, which were calculated from onset absorption in the film state. The photoluminescence (PL) maxima were at 459–469 nm, indicating that they are blue‐emitting materials, and the relative PL quantum efficiencies were 0.62–0.77 and 0.23–0.40 in solution and the film state, respectively. Cyclic voltammetric investigations demonstrated that oxadiazole moieties decrease the barrier of electron injection but also retard hole injection. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2571–2580, 2001