Spontaneous polymerization of benzofulvene derivatives bearing complexed or un-complexed pyridine rings. (15th April 2022) - Paolino, Marco
Graphical abstract: Highlights: Benzofulvene derivatives 6-Pyr-BF3k and 6-PTPC-BF3k bearing uncomplexed and complexed pyridine rings are synthesized. The solvent removal from a 6-Pyr-BF3k solution leads to the spontaneous formation of the homopolymer poly-6-Pyr-BF3k . The same procedure applied to the 6-PTPC-BF3k monomer highlights the competition between polymerization and crystallization. Uncomplexd poly-6-Pyr-BF3k show interesting emission properties, while poly-6-PTPC-BF3k shows low emission quantum yield. Abstract: Benzofulvene derivatives bearing complexed and un-complexed pyridine rings are designed and synthesized to assess the effects on the spontaneous solid-state polymerization of the presence in position 6 of the 3-phenylbenzofulvene moiety of bulky substituents capable of establishing metallophilic interactions. Both the benzofulvene monomers are found to polymerize spontaneously upon solvent removal under reduced pressure in the apparent absence of catalysts or initiators. The resulting polybenzofulvene derivatives are characterized by NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and in photophysical studies.