Preparation and properties of soluble polyphenylenes

Diheptylbenzene-1,4-bis(trimethylene boronate) was copolymerized with arylene dibromides in the presence of a palladium catalyst. Copolymers with 2,5-thienylene or 1,4-naphthylene had degree of polymerization higher than 100. Structures of the copolymers were identified by NMR spectroscopy. The copolymers emitted strong fluorescence. Spectra of copolymer with anthracene showed fine structures and a Stokes shift as small as 13 nm, while those of copolymers with thiophene or naphthalene were structureless and showed large apparent Stokes shift ranging from 70 to 130 nm.