Synthesis and characterization of a new class of nematic photoluminescent oxadiazole-containing polyethers

The synthesis and the characterization of a new class of segmented polyethers (PO) containing the oxadiazole unit are reported. Because of the anisotropic shape of oxadiazole-conjugated segment, the copolymers of the series show the monotropic nematic phase to be somewhat different from that observed in the case of the low molecular mass analogous compounds. In that case, high ordered liquid crystalline smectic phases are reported while the nematic phase is observed just in few cases. According to previous reports on oxadiazole-containing materials, PO show high photoluminescence activity in the blue region of the visible spectra. The good solubility in chlorinate solvents allows the preparation of films with homogeneous thickness by spin coating. A glass transition temperature in the range 100-120 degreesC ensures good stability of film morphology at room temperature. For these features, polymers PO are potential candidate materials for fabricating blue-light-emitting devices.