Synthesis and Properties of Conjugated Cyclopolymers Bearing Fluorene Derivatives

Fluorene-containing, spiro-type, conjugated polymers were synthesized via the cyclopolymerization of dipropargylfluorenes (2-substituted, X=H, Br, Ac, $ NO_{2}$) with various transition metal catalysts. The polymerization of dipropargylfluorenes proceeded well using Mo-based catalysts to give a high polymer yield. The catalytic activities of the Mo-based catalysts were found to be more effective than those of W-based catalysts. The palladium (II) chloride also increased the polymer yield of the polymerization. The polymer structure of poly(dipropargylfluorene)s was characterized by such instrumental methods as NMR ($^{1}H_{-}$, $^{13}C_{-}$), IR, UV-visible spectroscopies, and elemental analysis as having the conjugated polymer backbone bearing fluorene moieties. The $^{13}C_{-}$NMR spectral data on the quaternary carbon atoms in polymers indicated that the conjugated cyclopolymers have the six-membered rings majorly. The poly(dipropargylfluorene) derivatives were completely soluble in halogenated and aromatic hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, chloroform, benzene, toluene, and chlorobenzene. The poly(dipropargylfluorene) derivatives were thermally more stable than poly(dipropargylfluorene) itself, and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the polymers are mostly amorphous. The photoluminescence peaks of the polymers were observed at about 457-491 nm, depending on the substituents of fluorene moieties.