Synthesis of π-conjugated polymers containing aminoquinoline-borafluorene complexes in the main-chain

Abstract

The regulation of electron transfer between a conjugated polymer and ligands orthogonally connected to the main-chain is reported. Poly(arylene-ethynylene)s containing aminoquinoline-borafluorene complexes in the main-chain are synthesized in good yields by a Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling. Single crystal X-ray analysis of a model compound has elucidated the complex's structure in which the aminoquinolate moiety and the borafluorene ring are connected directly and orthogonally. Moreover, the optical properties of the polymers are characterized by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra. Perfluorinated alkyl chain-containing polymers show strong emission, while hydrocarbon chain-containing ones exhibit only a slight emission. DFT calculation suggests that an electron transfer from the excited main-chain to the aminoquinolate ligand is suppressed because of the lowered LUMO level by introducing the electron withdrawing groups, resulting in the significant emission.