Tetraarylphosphonium polyelectrolyte chromophores: synthesis, stability, photophysics, film morphology and critical surface energyElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: NMR spectra for new compounds. See DOI: 10.1039/c4py01483a

Three ionic polymers featuring main chain tetraarylphosphonium units have been prepared by an underexplored polymerisation route that employs Ni-catalysed P-C bond formation. The three polymers include chromophores comprised of 2,5-dihexyloxy- p -phenylene, 9,9-dioctyl-2,7-fluorenylene, or 2,7-fluorenone segments between phosphonium sites so that the composite ionic polymers exhibit absorption and photoluminescence in the UV-visible region of the spectrum. The photophysical properties of the materials were evaluated to assess the applicability of the polymers for optoelectronic applications. The wettability and critical surface energies of dip-coated neat polymer films were also determined from contact angle measurements. Chromophore-modified polymers with tetraarylphosphonium units in the main chain have been prepared by a Ni-catalysed P-C bond-forming reaction.