Synthesis and characterization of fully soluble polyphenylenevinylene

Fully soluble poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyl)-oxy)-p-phenylenevinylene] (M EH-PPV) was synthesized by the addition of molecular weight modifiers (chai n stopper, Free radical scavengers) to a polymerization system containing m onomer, catalyst and a solvent. These PPV products synthesized in this work were characterized by IR, NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy and GPC. Results sh ow that the M-w of polyphenylvinylene (PPV) can be controlled by the additi on of chain stopper (benzyl bromide) and radical inhibitor (2,6-di-tert-but yl-4-methyl phenol). The polymerization mechanism in the presence of these additives was also discussed. A dual mechanism involving carbene for PPV po lymerization was proposed.