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Poly( p ‐phenylenediethynylene phosphane): A Phosphorus‐Containing Macromolecule that Displays Blue Fluorescence Upon Oxidation
Author(s) -
Rawe Benjamin W.,
Gates Derek P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201504464
Subject(s) - conjugated system , macromolecule , chemistry , polymer , polymerization , polystyrene , fluorescence , polymer chemistry , photochemistry , copolymer , combinatorial chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Despite the challenges associated with their synthesis, hybrid inorganic–organic polymers featuring heavier main‐group elements spaced by π‐conjugated organic functionalities have garnered considerable recent attention due to their chemical functionality and novel photophysical properties. We have succeeded in the preparation of an unprecedented organophosphorus polymer possessing functional phosphane‐di‐yne moieties in the main chain. Namely, poly(p‐phenylenediethynylene phosphane) (PPYP) is prepared using a nickel(II)‐catalyzed PC bond‐forming reaction. The hexyl‐substituted PPYPs are solution processible and have been thoroughly characterized (molecular weight, M w , ca. 10 4 Da vs. polystyrene; degree of polymerization, DP, ca. 10). Remarkably, although PPYP shows very weak emission upon irradiation with UV light, its oxide shows blue “turn‐on” fluorescence. The present discovery bridges the areas of main‐group and polymer science and opens the door to a new class of σ‐π‐conjugated macromolecules with unique chemical functionality.