Synthesis and Optical Properties of a Polyacetylene with Hydroxy Funtional Groups: Poly(4-ethynylbenzyl Alcohol)

Abstract

A new conjugated polymer with hydroxy functional groups, poly(4-ethynylbenzyl alcohol) [poly(4-EBA)], was synthesized by the polymerization of 4-ethynylbenzyl alcohol (4-EBA) using transition metal catalysts. Such instrumental methods as NMR, IR, and UV-visible spectroscopies revealed that the resulting polymer has a conjugated polymer backbone system having the designed substituents. The photoluminescence maximum peak of poly(4-EBA) was located at 465 nm, which corresponds to the photon energy of 2.67 eV. UV-visible absorption and PL spectra of four similar polyacetylene derivatives were measured and compared.