Abstract
We have found that by the inclusion of a conjugated spacer it is possible to synthesise a poly(l,4-phenylenevinylene) derivative with an electron-withdrawing group attached directly from the substituted monomer. We describe a route for the synthesis of an electronically asymmetric styryl-derivatised poly(l,4-phenylenevinylene). The preparation was achieved in two steps from the nitrostyryl-substituted arylenedimethylene bisbromo monomer
13
. In the first step, base-induced polymerisation of
13
afforded the soluble and processible precursor polymer
14
. The precursor polymer
14
could then be converted in the second step to the insoluble and unprocessible conjugated polymer
15
by thermal treatment in the solid state.