Synthesis and optical properties of phenylene-vinylene copolymers

A series of soluble phenylene-vinylene copolymers have been prepared by fou r different methods. Two of these methods use the Wittig reaction in two di fferent solvents, whereas the other two were prepared by the Horner reactio n using the same two solvents. The method of preparation was found to affec t the cis/trans vinylene bond ratio and also the molecular weight character istics of the polymer. Some of the polymers form high molecular weight cycl ic oligomers. The optical properties of the polymers were investigated and compared. Concentration dependant fluorescence studies were done. In partic ular one polymer (Poly(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylene-vinylene) or WTolPmPV prepared by the Wittig route in Toluene exhibited behaviour chara cteristic of an aggregate luminescence.