Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of novel polyarylates bearing pendent naphthylamine chromophores

A new series of blue photoluminescent aromatic polyesters (polyarylates) were synthesized from 1-[N,N-di(4-carboxyphenyl)amino]naphthalene with various bisphenols by the diphenylchlorophosphate (DPCP) activated direct polycondensation in a medium of pyridine and lithium chloride. The synthesis, basic characterizations, photoluminescence and electrochemical properties of this series of novel polyarylates bearing pendent naphthylamine chromophores were investigated. All polymers not only had good solubility in many polar aprotic solvents and excellent thin-film-forming ability, but also exhibited high Tg values, good thermal stability and lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level. Thus, these naphthylamine-containing polyarylates may be widely applied in P-LED as hole-transporting layer and blue light-emitting materials due to their proper HOMO level, excellent thermal stability and fluorescence quantum efficiency.