Synthesis and optical properties of phenylene-vinylene copolymers

A series of soluble phenylene-vinylene copolymers have been prepared by four different methods. Two of these methods use the Wittig reaction in two different solvents, whereas the other two were prepared by the Horner reaction using the same two solvents. The method of preparation was found to affect the cis/trans vinylene bond ratio and also the molecular weight characteristics of the polymer. Some of the polymers form high molecular weight cyclic oligomers. tical properties of the polymers were investigated and compared. Concentration dependant fluorescence studies were done. In particular one polymer (Poly(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylene-vinylene) or WToIPmPV prepared by the Wittig route in Toluene exhibited behaviour characteristic of an aggregate luminescence.