Synthesis and optical properties of copolymers containing side chain oxadiazole blocks and a rigid central moiety

Rod-coil block copolymers containing di(styryl)-anthracene units as the rod block and oxadiazole homopolymers as the flexible blocks are reported. These copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of the desired oxadiazole monomers using a properly modified conjugated segment as initiator. The resulting copolymers were obtained in high yields and with very narrow polydispersities down to 1.17 in some cases and were primarily characterized by using size exclusion chromatography (GPC) and spectroscopic (H-1 NMR) and thermal (DSC) techniques. Additionally, their optical properties were investigated in detail and were found to emit in the green spectral region in the solid state resulting from an efficient energy transfer from the oxadiazole to the anthracene type chromophores.