Synthesis and characterization of well-defined soluble Alq3- And Znq2-functionalized polymers via RAFT copolymerization

Abstract

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerizations of 2-((8-hydroxyquinolin-5-yl)methoxy)ethyl methacrylate (HQHEMA) with styrene (St) or methyl methacrylate (MMA) were successfully carried out in the presence of 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithionaphthalenoate (CPDN). The polymerization behaviors showed the typical living natures by the firstorder polymerization kinetics, the linear dependence of molecular weights of the polymers on the monomer conversions with the relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn), and the successful chain extension experiments. The soluble polymers having tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3) and bis(8-hydroxyquinoline) znic(II) (Znq2) side chains were obtained via complexation of the polymers with aluminium isopropoxide or zinc acetate in the presence of monomeric 8-hydroxyquinoline, which had strong fluorescent emission at 520 nm. The obtained polymers were characterized by GPC, 1H NMR, UV-vis, and fluorescent spectra. Copyright © 2010 Chengchao Wang et al.