The elimination process of sulfinyl-precursor polymers towards poly(p-phenylene vinylene): methods for monitoring elimination

Abstract

The use of sulfinyl groups as thermally eliminable groups in precursor routes towards poly(para-phenylene vinylene), PPV is relatively new and has not yet been fully explored. In this paper the elimination of sulfinyl groups in a sulfinyl precursor, poly[1,4-phenylene (1-n-alkyl sulfinyl)-ethylene], is evaluated by different techniques; Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, Direct Insert Probe Mass Spectrometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Oxidation of the conjugated polymer during elimination in function of different temperatures is investigated. The effect of temperature on the rate of elimination is semi-quantitatively determined. The effect of different alkyl substituents on the elimination in the sulfinyl groups is evaluated. The process of conversion from sulfinyl precursor to PPV can be divided into three stages: evaporation of water associated with the hygroscopic sulfinyl groups, elimination of the sulfinyl groups and at least evaporation of the elimination products.