Synthesis and properties of poly-(2-ethynylpyridinium bromide) having propargyl side chains

Poly-(2-ethynylpyridinum bromide) (PEPBP) having propargyl side chains was prepared by the direct polymerization of 2-ethynylpyridine and propargyl br omide under mild reaction conditions without any initiator and catalysts. T he polymerization proceeded well to give PEPBP with propargyl side chains i n relatively high yields. Various spectral data for the polymer structure i ndicated that the conjugated polymer system having N-propargylpyridinum sub stituent was formed. This ionic polymer was completely soluble in water, me thanol, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and N,N-dimethylacetamide an d well processable into thin homogeneous film. The photoluminescence intens ity (lambda (max) = 760 nm.) of this polymer increased as the temperature w as increased, At 1 KHz and room temperature, this polymer has k ' = 2.9 and sigma = 7.3 X 10(-10) (S/cm). (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.