Click polymerization: Synthesis of novel σ-π conjugated organosilicon polymers

Poly[silylene-1,4-phenylene-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1,4-phenylene]s were prepared via step-growth Click coupling polymerization of bis(p-ethynylphenyl)silanes and 1,4-diazidobenzene. The organosilicon units in the backbones may contribute to an electronic communication among the pi-conjugated units and improve the solubility of the polymers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were used to confirm the polymers structure. The UV-vis absorption wavelength of silicon-containing compounds red-shifted ca. 15 nm when compared with the compounds without silicon atoms. The fluorescence emission of polymers in CHCl3 solutions was observed in visible blue region (ca. 440 nm), and the intensity and quantum yield (Phi) were enhanced due to the influence of sigma-pi interaction. The results of the absorption and emission supported the weak sigma-pi conjugation between the silylene and aromatic segments, and these polymers can be potentially applied in organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.