Synthesis and characterization of alternative donor–acceptor arranged poly(arylene ethynylene)s derived from 1,4-diketo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP)

A series of donor–acceptor type poly(arylene ethynylene)s (PAEs) have been synthesized through Sonogashira polycondensation. The polymers consist of an electron donating 9,9-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-fluorene, triphenylamine, 1,4-dialkoxybenzene or 9-(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-carbazole unit and an electron accepting 2,5-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4(2H,5H)-dione (EH-DPP) unit, alternately connected through ethynyl bridge. The polymers exhibit weight-average molecular weights (Mw) up to 68, 500 and are soluble in chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, THF, chloroform and toluene. A brilliant red solution with absorption maxima between 491 and 500 nm was observed for all the polymers. An intense red fluorescent with photoemission maxima between 551 and 571 nm was observed from polymer solutions. The polymers showed good thermal stability with decomposition temperature more than 260 °C at 5% weight loss. Onset oxidation potentials of the polymers were observed between 1.30 and 1.58 V with HOMO energy levels in the range of −6.10 to −6.38 eV. The OLED devices were fabricated with configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/LiF/Al for all the polymers and EL maxima between 666 and 684 nm were observed.