Molecular design and characterization of chromic polyfluorene derivatives

The thermochromic and solvatochromic properties of a series of fluorene-bas ed conjugated polymers have been investigated. Both poly(2,7-(9,9-dioctylfl uorene)) and poly(2,5-(thiophene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)) have revea led interesting chromic properties which, on the basis of theoretical calcu lations, seem to be related to a relatively flexible backbone. On the ether hand, the sterically hindered, nonplanar poly(2,5-(3,4-dimethylthiophene)- alt-2,7-(99,9-dioctylfluorene)) does not exhibit any significant solvatochr omic and thermochromic properties which could be explained by an important energy barrier against planarity. Finally, investigations on poly(2,5-(3,4- ethylene dioxythiophene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)) have revealed a hig hly conjugated conformational structure which is not significantly modified upon temperature or solvent changes.