Syntheses and properties of dumbbell-shaped POSS derivatives linked by luminescent π-conjugated units

Dumbbell-shaped isobutyl-substituted 1,2-bis(4-vinylphenyl)acetylene-linked POSS (DA1), 9,10-bis(4-vinylphenyl)ethynyl)anthracene-linked POSS (DA2), and 5,5?-bis((4-vinyl)phenyl)ethynyl)-2,2':5'2?-terthiophene-linked POSS (DA3), and corresponding model compounds were synthesized by cross metathesis and Sonogashira reaction, and their film formability, and thermal and optical properties were examined. The dumbbell structures of the obtained compounds were confirmed by 1H-, 13C-, and 29Si-NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. The dumbbell-shaped POSS compounds gave optically transparent films. All the model compounds, however, formed opaque films. All the films were emissive under UV irradiation. The dumbbell structures minimize longer wavelength shifts and improve emission efficiency of the luminescent p-conjugated linker units in their solid states compared with the model compounds. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012.