Well-Defined End-Functionalized Conjugated Polymers/Oligomers Exhibiting Unique Emission Properties through the End Groups: The Exclusive Synthesis by Combined Olefin Metathesis with Wittig-type Coupling

Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization using ruthenium-carbene catalysts affords defect-free, high molecular weight poly(arylene vinylene)s containing all trans olefinic double bonds. The exclusive end-functionalization in the resultant poly(fluorene vinylene)s or poly(phenylene vinylene)s can be attained by treating the vinyl end groups using a molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst/reagent (through olefin metathesis) followed by addition of various aldehydes (Wittig-type coupling). Some of these end-modified conjugated materials display unique emission properties, which are different from the original ones, through an interaction (energy transfer or structural change in the excited state) between the conjugated main chain and the end groups [oligo(thiophene)s, F-BODIPY, etc.]. Exclusive synthesis of well-defined, all-trans end-functionalized oligo(2,5-dialkoxy-1,4-phenylene vinylene)s [(oligo(phenylene vinylene), alkoxy = O(CH2)(2)(OSiPr3)-Pr-i, up to 31 repeat units] is demonstrated by adopting a stepwise synthetic approach (olefin metathesis and the subsequent Wittig-type cleavage). It is clearly demonstrated that their optical properties (especially the fluorescence spectra including photoluminescence quantum yields) are strongly affected by the end groups as well as the conjugation repeat units.