Yellow light-emitting poly(phenylenevinylene) incorporated with pendant ruthenium bipyridine and terpyridine complexes

Abstract

A series of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) containing ruthenium bipyridiyl or terpyridyl metal complexes in the side chain was synthesized using palladium-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction. Nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterized the PPVs. The polymers exhibited light emission from the polymer backbone and the metal complex moieties, which resulted in yellow light emission. When the tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium complex content was increased, the emission from the backbone was quenched by metal complex.