Exploration of structure and mechanism of insoluble gels formed in microwave-assisted Suzuki coupling for poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene)s

A series of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene)s (PDHFs) have been synthesized via microwave-assisted Suzuki and Yamamoto coupling reactions. Compared with the conventional oil-bath heating (48 h, Mw 20100 g/mol by Suzuki reaction and Mw 24000 g/mol by Yamamoto reaction), microwave-assisted polymerization can yield PDHFs with higher molecular weights (Mw 37200 g/mol by Suzuki reaction and Mw 43400 g/mol by Yamamoto reaction) in shorter time (14 and 60 min). However, sometimes formation of insoluble gels was observed together with PDHF in Suzuki coupling reaction. PDHF and insoluble gels were analyzed by XPS, elemental analysis, FTIR, TGA and DSC. Experimental results demonstrated that H2O might take part in the Suzuki coupling reaction under microwave condition, which could make the cross-linking reaction occur and form gels.