Solution-processable copolymers with pendant phosphorescent iridium complexes and 2,7-di(carbazol-9-yl)fluorene-type host moieties were synthesized using ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Low polydispersity indices and molecular weights around 20 000 Da were obtained for all copolymers. As a result of the living character of the polymerization of the monomer containing the host moiety, a high degree of control over the molecular weights of all copolymers can be obtained. The photo-and electroluminescence properties of the copolymers were investigated. All copolymers retained the photo-and electrophysical properties of the corresponding nonpolymeric iridium complexes. Furthermore, as a proof of principle for the potential use of these materials, organic light-emitting devices were fabricated using the orange-emitting copolymer. A maximum external quantum efficiency of 1.9% at 100 cd/m 2 and a turn-on voltage of 3.7 V were obtained with photoluminescence quantum yield of 0.10 demonstrating the potential of these copolymers as emissive materials for display and lighting applications.

Norbornenes containing phosphorescent iridium complexes based on Ir(ppy)3 and Ir(ppy)2(bpy)(PF6) were synthesized and copolymerized with alkylnorbornenes via ring-opening metathesis polymerization in nonpolar solvents using ruthenium initiators. The luminescent properties of the resulting polymers both in solution and in the solid state were tested. The polymers were found to retain the optical properties of the phosphorescent small molecule analogues with emission maxima in the yellow/green, quantum yields from 0.23 to 0.24 for Ir(ppy)2(bpy)(PF6) analogues, 0.02 to 0.03 for mer-Ir(ppy)3 analogues, and 0.20 to 0.24 for fac-Ir(ppy)3 analogues, and lifetimes of 0.41 to 0.55 μs for Ir(ppy)2(bpy)(PF6) analogues, 0.22 to 0.62 μs for mer-Ir(ppy)3 analogues, and 1.28 to 1.48 μs for fac-Ir(ppy)3 analogues. By combining the phosphorescent properties of these emissive molecules with the solution processability and ease of synthesis of polynorbornene backbones, these materials might be highly useful in the field of light-emitting devices and emissive display technology.

Monomers containing (trisbipyridine) ruthenium(II), (bisbipyridine) palladium(II), and heteroleptic ruthenium complexes were synthesized and polymerized via ruthenium‐catalyzed ring‐opening metathesis polymerization in nonpolar solvents. The solubility of the resulting polyelectrolytes in nonpolar solutions could be tuned by alkyl functionalization of the ligands around the metal centers. These polymers are the first polynorbornenes containing a 2,2′‐bipyridine‐based metal complex at each repeating unit and might be used in numerous applications, including luminescent and electroluminescent materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2973–2984, 2004

[reaction: see text] The stabilities of various functionalized norbornenes that are monomers for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in aqueous solution were evaluated toward hydrolysis under a range of temperatures (37, 60, and 80 degrees C) and pH values (3-9). All monomers contain hydrolyzable linkages to pendant functional groups, and conclusions were drawn relating to how the chemical diversity of these pendant functional groups, in accordance with the pH and temperature variations, affect hydrolysis of the aforementioned linkages. The hydrolysis was monitored by reverse phase HPLC analysis, and/or NMR spectroscopy. As expected, monomers containing ester linkages were fairly labile at higher pH values, while acetal-based linkers were cleaved at lower pH values. Beta-amino ester groups experienced a significant increase in hydrolysis rate, while carboxylic acid-containing monomers did not follow any clear trend. Saccharide-containing monomers exhibited unique behaviors for various pH values and temperature ranges.