Synthesis and characterization of dendronized polyfluorenes

A series of polyfluorenes containing pendant poly(benzyl ether) dendritic wedges of different generations was synthesized via the macromonomer approach, and then they were characterized by their structures and properties. The dendritic monomers were prepared by coupling benzyl bromide functionalized dendrons with 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,7-dibromofluorene and were subsequently copolymerized with a 9,9-dioctylfluorene diboronate derivative by the Suzuki coupling reaction to give the target alternating copolymers. Photophysical studies reveal that the photoluminescent properties of the dendronized polymers are greatly affected by the size of the dendritic side chains. Polymers appended with higher generation dendrons exhibit an enhanced photoluminescence efficiency and an improved luminescent stability. This is attributed to the shielding effect induced by the bulky dendrimer side chains, which prevent self-quenching and suppress the formation of aggregates/excimers.