Synthesis, characterization and spectroscopical investigation of poly(paraphenylenevinylene) (PPV) polymers with symmetric alkoxy side-chain lengths.

A modified Gilch polymerization method, with optimized synthesis procedures were utilized to prepare poly(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives of differing symmetric alkoxyl substituents. The characterization techniques elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and LC–MS were utilized for all structural elucidations. 1H NMR spectra of the symmetric dialkyl PPV polymers gave aliphatic protons in region δ 0.84–4.15 ppm and aromatic protons in region δ 7.15–7.19 ppm. The polymers gave yields 37–69% with number-average degree of polymerization ( DP ¯ n ) of range 39–68 and polydispersity indices (PDI) in range 2.61–3.59. Further, the molecular weights, weight- and z-average M ¯ w and M ¯ z of the polymers were calculated to be in range 35,150–79,770 and 41,300–91,020, respectively. SEM was utilized to examine surface morphologies and the cross-sections of symmetrical dialkyl PPV polymer films. The HCl-doped films of the symmetrical dialkyl PPV polymers gave electrical conductivities in range 0.1847–0.4585 Scm−1. These conductive polymers gear attraction in electronic industries as active semiconductor materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]