Soluble and strongly photoluminescent polyethers with oligophenylene, p-phenylenevinylene-, or p-phenyleneethynylene-based chromophores

New polyethers containing alternating rigid conjugated chromophores and nonconjugated aliphatic spacers were synthesized. The chromophores were of oligophenylene, p-phenylenevinylene, and p-phenylencethynylene types. The polymers were amorphous and showed enhanced solubility in common organic solvents and T-g in the range 80-115 degreesC and satisfied thermal stability. The polymers showed blue fluorescence both in solution and in solid state. Their PL spectra displayed maxima at 390-453 and 407-464 nm in solution and in the solid state, respectively. The wavelengths of absorption and emission depended on the chemical structures of the chromophores. The PL quantum yields in solution were determined and ranged from 0.58 to 0.98.