Azochromophore-functionalized polyelectrolytes. 1. Synthesis, characterization, and photoprocessing

A series of azobenzene chromophore-functionalized polyelectrolytes have been synthesized by a post-azo-coupling reaction. An epoxy-based precursor polymer (CH-AN) was synthesized by the reaction of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether (CH) with aniline(AN). For comparison purposes, another epoxy-based precursor polymer (BP-AN) was prepared from the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BP) and aniline(AN). These precursor polymers were then postfunctionalized by an ate-coupling reaction to form polymers containing donor-acceptor type azo chromophores. The azo chromophores were designed to contain ionizable groups to impart self-assembling and photoprocessing capabilities to the polymers. The structure and properties of the newly synthesized polymers are reported in this paper. CHAN-based azo polymers exhibit typical properties of polyelectrolytes. The polymers containing 4(4-(carboxylic acid)phenylazo)aniline chromophores can be directly photofabricated to form surface relief gratings with large surface modulations. Charge interactions had a strong influence on the details of the writing process.