BIS(DIACETYLENE)S .1. LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-FILMS

A series of bis(diacetylene)s of the general structure H(CH2)lC;CCC(CH2)mCCCC(CH2)nR, where R CO2H or NMe2 or NEt2, have been synthesized, and systematic investigations of the surface-forming and polymerization properties have been carried out. The effect of changing the pH of the aqueous subphase on the stability of the monomer films of both the acid and the amine types of the molecules was found to be significant. The stability of the Langmuir-Blodgett films at various pH values has been found to be dependent on the nature of the hydrophilic group (R). The increased stabilities of the acid monomers at high pH values and the amine monomers at low pH values have been demonstrated. The Langmuir-Blodgett technique was used to build up multilayers of defined thickness. On exposure to a UV light source the multilayers were found to polymerize. © 1990.