Electroluminescence from new polynorbornenes that contain blue-light-emitting and charge-transport side chains

A blue-light-emitting electroluminescent polymer was prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a norbornene monomer that contains a diphenylanthracene chromophore as a side chain (lambda(max,em) = 450 nm). Norbornene monomers also were synthesized that contain an oxadiazole (for electron transport) or a tertiary arylamine (for hole transport). Oligomers (25mers or 50mers) of homo- and copolymers (M-w/M-n = 1.02-1.08) were prepared in toluene in 95-98% yield, employing Mo(N-2,6-C6H3-i-Pr-2)(CHMe2Ph)(O-t-Bu)(2) as the initiator. Electroluminescent devices made with a single layer of substituted polynorbornene, an ITO anode, and an Al cathode were prepared first. Two-layer devices were then constructed in which the substituted polynorbornene was spin cast onto a 25-bilayer poly(phenylenevinylene) (PPV) heterostructure. The two-layer device performed best in terms of efficiency, light output, and threshold voltage.