Project Details
Projekt
Synthesis and characterization of molecular devices based on photochromic 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene compounds
Applicant
Dr. Luc Ubaghs
Subject Area
Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
Term
from 2005 to 2007
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 13942600
Photochromic lactone and cyclic carbonate monomers will be synthesized from functional lactones or functional cyclic carbonates, respectively, and 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene compounds. The monomers will subsequently be polymerized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) to obtain homopolymers, i.e., polyesters or polycarbonates, with a high concentration of pendant photochromic units and with a well-defined molecular weight and a low polydispersity. The ring-opening/ring-closing reaction of the 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene units will be studied by means of UV-vis spectroscopy (photochromism) or electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (electrochromism). Furthermore, photochromic bis(carbonate)s will be prepared and polymerized in a step-growth reaction with diamines to yield main-chain photochromic polyurethanes. Finally, photochromic 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene derivatives with N-Heterocycles will be synthesized, and their ability to host metal ions, i.e., the development of gated-photochromic systems, will be studied for example by means of microcalorimetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray analysis.
DFG Programme
Research Fellowships
International Connection
Canada
