Polyquinolines containing both spirobifluorene and cardofluorene units: Synthesis and characterization

We have synthesized aromatic polyquinolines containing both spirobifluorene and cardofluorene moieties in the main chain by applying acid‐catalyzed Friedländer quinoline synthesis. The incorporation of these rigid nonplanar structures into the polymer backbone, which restricts segmental mobility, significantly increases both the glass‐transition temperature and thermal stability, while providing enhanced solubility as a result of a decrease in the degree of molecular packing and crystallinity. We have also examined the optical and electrochemical properties of these polyquinolines. The low‐lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level and quasireversible electrochemical reduction of these polyquinolines suggest their potential for use as electron‐injecting/transporting materials in polymer light‐emitting diodes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3314–3322, 2004