A facile one‐pot reactive solution blending approach for main‐chain donor–acceptor polymeric materials. Issue 3 (31st October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nisha, S. Kumari; Asha, S. K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 51:Issue 3(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 509
• Page End: 524
• Publication Date: 2012-10-31
• Subjects: 547
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.26412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-624X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A high‐temperature solution blending process has been used to synthesize a series of copolymers incorporating varying mole ratios of perylenebisimide (PBI) into the backbone of an engineering thermoplastic polyester [poly(1, 4‐cyclohexylenedimethylene‐1, 4‐cyclohexanedicarboxylate)] (PCCD). A random donor–acceptor copolymer incorporating oligo(<italic>p</italic>‐phenylene vinylene) (OPV) and PBI was also synthesized. The chemical incorporation of these chromophores into PCCD was confirmed by carrying out the melt condensation using 1, 4‐cyclohexanedimethanol and 1, 4‐dimethylcyclohexane dicarboxylate with hydroxyl‐functionalized PBI and OPV derivatives. Higher extent of incorporation of PBI (35 mol %) could be achieved using the blending approach retaining solubility, film‐forming ability, and higher molecular weights. The PBI polymers produced using the two different approaches exhibited structural variations. The polymers formed from the solution blending approach had a semicrystalline nature with blocks of PCCD separating the PBI units, whereas those produced using the melt condensation route were amorphous polymers. This structural variation was reflected in their photophysical properties also with the reactive solution‐blended polymers exhibiting higher fluorescence quantum yields. These results demonstrate the easy incorporation of suitably functionalized donor and acceptor moieties into a completely aliphatic polyester backbone to produce free‐standing films of hitherto nonprocessable polymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013</p> </abstract>