Synthesis and properties of amorphous blue‐light‐emitting polymers with high glass‐transition temperatures

A series of soluble poly(arylene ether)s containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety were synthesized by the polymerization of substituted oligophenylene diols with bis(fluorophenyl)phenylphosphine oxide. These amorphous polyethers had well‐defined structures and showed blue photoluminescence combined with good thermal stability, especially when phenyl or ethoxy side groups were used. The glass‐transition temperatures increased when the size of the oligophenylene segment increased from three to five rings or when the length of the alkoxy substituents decreased. Polymers with glass‐transition temperatures up to 270 °C were obtained. The absorption and photoluminescent spectra shifted to longer wavelengths with an increase in the oligophenylene block. A redshift was also observed on photoluminescent spectra in the transition from solution to the solid state.