METALLOPORPHYRIN POLYMERS BRIDGED WITH CONJUGATED CYANO-SUBSTITUTED STILBENE UNITS

A new metalloporphyrin polymer in which the metalloporphyrin units are bridged edge to edge with cyano-substituted stilbene was synthesized from 5-bis(4-formylphenyl)-10,20-bis(mesityl)porphyrin] Zn(II) and 1,4 -dihexyloxy-2,5-benzenediacetonitrile via the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The synthesis and characterization of a new porphyrin monom er and polymer are presented. Based an UV-Vis absorption and fluoresce nce studies, electronic communication between the chromophore groups i s low. The relatively high solubility of the materials provides for th e preparation of polymer films by spin coating. The polymer film can b e doped by FeCl3 and shows limited conductivity. The doped film is ext remely stable in air and can be reversibly dedoped by reducing reagent s such as NaBH4. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.