Synthesis of organic–inorganic polymer hybrids from acrylate polymer having a triphenylimidazole moiety via π–π interactions

Abstract

Organic–inorganic polymer hybrids were prepared utilizing π–π interactions. The sol–gel reaction of phenyltrimethoxysilane (PhTMOS) was carried out in the presence of an acrylate polymer having a triphenylimidazole moiety such as poly(4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-yl)-phenyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PDM). Transparent and homogeneous polymer hybrids were obtained from PDM and alkoxysilanes having aromatic groups such as PhTMOS. These polymer hybrids could be obtained in a wide range of mass ratios of PDM/PhSiO1.5 = 9/1–4/6. In these polymer hybrids, the π–π interaction played an important role in the dispersion of PDM in the PhSiO1.5 matrix.