Phenylenevinylene oligomers by Mizoroki-Heck cross coupling reaction. Structural and optoelectronic characterization

In order to study the effect of the molecular structure on the optical properties of totally trans-trans phenylenevinylene oligomers (OPVs), sixteen 1,4-distyrylbenzene derivatives (1a-i and 2a-g) functionalized with different electron-donating (ED) and electron-withdrawing (EW) groups were synthesized by the Mizoroki-Heck cross coupling reaction in moderate to good yields (40-95%). The implemented methodology, with a small modification previously reported by our group, allows obtaining the desired vinyl configuration as well as one novel OPV compound (1h). After structural characterization by several techniques (e.g. FTIR, H-1, C-13 and Solid-State NMR), particular emphasis was placed upon the investigation of their optical properties by UV vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. The results showed that, with only one exception, the ED and EW groups at the ends of OPV systems lead to a bathochromic shift. This effect is intensified with the introduction of methoxy groups on the central ring. Consistent with these, the HOMO-LUMO gaps (Delta E) decreases as the strength of ED and EW substituents increases. The ED and EW substituents also lead to a decrease in the Phi(f) values. This contribution in the area of organic electronics can be used as a reference to better select the most appropriate technological application for each OPV and this can be extrapolated to their respective structurally analogous segmented polymer. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.