ELIMINATION OF ION-EXCHANGED PRECURSORS TO POLY(PHENYLENEVINYLENE)

Poly(xylylidenetetrahydrothiophenium) (PXT) precursors to poly(phenylenevinylene) (PPV) containing fluoride, chloride, bromide, and acetate counterions were prepared by ion-exchange dialysis of the chloride polyelectrolyte. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of cast films of PXT's indicates that elimination of the PXT acetate to PPV occurs at a much higher temperature than the halides. In situ conductivity measurements on sulfuric acid doped PPV's show that the identity of the anion has a marked influence on the limiting electronic conductivity. Studies on solution elimination kinetics reveal ion association of acetate with aqueous PXT. The products of elimination were followed by TGA coupled to IR analysis and were found to include tetrahydrothiophene, the conjugate acid of the anion, and water. Evidence for hydrogen bonding of water to PXT was found.