Incorporation of π-conjugated polymer into silica: Preparation of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]/silica and poly(3-hexylthiophene)/silica composites

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ma0508956

The Wittig reaction of 2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-p- xylylenebis(triphenylphosphonium chloride) with 2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy) benzene-1,4-dicarbaldehyde was carried out to obtain poly-[2-methoxy-5-(2- ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) terminated with a phosphonium moiety at the chain end. Poly[3-hexylthiophene-co-3-(6-hydroxyhexyl)thiophene]s were prepared by regioselective coupling reaction of 2-bromo-3-hexylthiophene and 2-bromo-3-(6-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-hexyl)thiophene and subsequent cleavage of a tetrahydropyranyl group. Acid-catalyzed polycondensations of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were carried out in the presence of these polymers to give homogeneous composites with silica. The resulting composite materials were characterized by UV-vis and emission spectra.