Design and Synthesis of High Refractive Index Polymers. II

The synthesis, physical and optical properties of a series of high molecular weight, colorless, nonbirefringent, amorphous polymethacrylates (and acrylates) comprising brominated and iodinated carbazole rings that are connected to the backbone by short hydrocarbon spacers are described. The refractive indices exhibited by these homopolymers are in the range of 1.67 to 1.77. A ternary mixture of brominated monomers has a low melting point (<50°C); the refractive index of the corresponding polymer = 1.72.