ESR spectroscopy of the elimination of sulfinyl precursor polymers towardsPPV

We investigated the elimination of the sulfinyl precursor polymer towards p oly(p-phenylene vinylene), PPV, by means of ESR spectroscopy. In this techn ique the radicals formed during and after elimination can be detected. A co mparison with the Wessling, route i.e, sulfonium groups eliminating towards PPV, a larger signal during and a smaller signal after elimination was rec orded when elimination was performed under nitrogen Bow. These observations indicate that during elimination radicals are formed which can be assigned to the elimination products which undergo sequential reactions after forma tion of the sulfenic acid upon elimination. The smaller signal after elimin ation which is in general subscribed to defects or end,endgroups, indicates a more pure PPV with less defects obtained from the sulfinyl precursor rou te in comparison with PPV obtained from the sulfonium precursor route.