Bulky sidegroup polymers - Synthesis and characterisation

A series of conjugated polymers related to poly(phenylenevinylene) PPV was synthesised and characterised. These polymers contain phenylene moieties attached to the vinylene unit with various substitution patterns to obtain very complex systems. Some polymers only contain phenylene units along the polymer chain whereas for some of the derivatives naphthalene units were introduced into the backbone. Additionally, some derivatives were prepared by varying para and meta substitution patterns. The influences of different structural alterations on the thermal behaviour, the optical properties and electrochemical behaviour are investigated. In general, the polymers are temperature-stable up to 350°C, emit in the blue to green region of the visible spectrum and contain varying oxidation and reduction potentials depending on the substitution pattern.