Synthesis and conformation of 3,6-connected cyclohexadiene chains

Abstract

3,6-Connected cyclohexadienes as precursors for polyphenylenes are synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Pure fractions of trimers, hexamers, and nonamers are collected after separation of the product mixture by recycling GPC. The anticipated formation of rigid linear structures, due to the trans-configuration of the monomeric units, is supported by density functional theory and experimentally confirmed by dynamic light scattering from dilute solution at low scattering angles. The obtained translational diffusion coefficients are represented by rigid rod-like or prolate ellipsoid-like molecular shapes. The measurements of diffusion coefficients reveal a length-dependent ratio of 1:2:3 between the three oligomers, which directly correlates to the expected length extension from trimer to nonamer.

Keywords: density functional theory (DFT); dynamic light scattering (DLS); poly(para-phenylene); rigid oligomers.