Synthesis and characterization of a bis‐(4‐trifluoromethanesulfonyloxyphenyl)phenylamine monomer and its polymer for light‐emitting applications

This study focuses on the preparation, polymerization, characterization, and optical properties of a new bis‐(4‐trifluoromethanesulfonyloxyphenyl)phenylamine monomer. This is the first nitrogen‐containing monomer having nitrogen atoms as bridges between phenyl rings, and it was synthesized in three steps. The polymerization was carried out through the Ni(0)‐catalyzed homocoupling reaction of the bis‐(4‐trifluoromethanesulfonyloxyphenyl)phenylamine compound. The resulting polymer, polybis(paraphenyl)phenylamine, emitted an intense blue color (where λ = 415 nm) upon irradiation by ultraviolet light. The photoluminescence quantum yield was found to be 36% with a long excited‐state lifetime of 3.3 ns. Electrical conductivity data for an HCl‐doped film of the polymer were also examined. This novel polymer is of interest as an organic emitting material for electroluminescent devices.