An electrochemical route to poly(p-phenylenevinylene) polymers (PPVs) and copolymers via cathodically generated quinodimethanes: preparative and structural aspects

Abstract
An electrochemical route to poly(p-phenylenevinylenes)(PPVs) is described which involves cathodic cleavage of bis(dibromomethyl)arenes at a mercury pool cathode. Insoluble and organosoly PPVs are obtained in good yields and are characterised as regular and linear. Copolymers are obtained by co-electrolysis of different bis(dibromomethyl)arenes. The method is versatile and much functionality is tolerated. The polymers can be made conducting by doping with BF3 or SO3. The effect of substituents on conductivity correlates, roughly but significantly, with Hammett σ-values. Poly(p-phenylenevinylene), the parent PPV, forms conducting blends with poly(vinyl alcohol).

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: