Published as part of the Cluster Synthesis of Materials
Abstract
A poly[(phenylene vinylene)-co-dibenzocyclooctyne] polymer prepared by Wittig polymerization
chemistry between dibenzocyclooctyne bisaldehyde [DIBO-(CHO)2] and bis(triethyleneglycol)phenylbis(tributylphosphonium) dibromide is reported.
The resulting polymer exhibits moderate molecular weight (Mn: 10.5 kDa, Mw: 21.3 kDa, Ð: 2.02) and is fluorescent. It could be readily functionalized by strain-promoted
alkyne-azide cycloadditon with different azides, and fluorescence of the polymer was
preserved after functionalization. Grafting azide-terminated 5 kDa poly(ethylene glycol)
monomethyl ether chains drastically affected the solubility of the polymer. Cross-linking
the polymer with poly(ethylene glycol) that was terminated at both ends with azide
groups gave access to a fluorescent organogel that could be dried and reswollen with
water to form a hydrogel.
Key words
Wittig reaction - cycloaddition - cyclooctyne - conjugated polymer - polymer functionalization
- cross-linking