Mechanistic study on the Gilch and the Sulfinyl polymerisation routes

Abstract

Poly-(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and its derivatives remain the most used class of conjugated polymers for use as active layer in P-LEDs. To obtain the desired polymer several synthetic methods have been developed; most of them based on similar chemistry. However, the nature of the underlying mechanism of these type of p-quinodimethane based polymerisations is still unclear; both anionic and radical mechanisms have been proposed. Recently, we investigated the influence of several additives on the Gilch and the Sulfinyl polymerisation towards OC1C10-PPV in THF in an attempt to bring some clarification on the matter.