Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft

Michael Van Der Broght

Frank Louwet

Dirk Vanderzande

Roland Stern

Joanes Gelan

Anna Issaris

A process for producing polymers of .alpha.,.omega.-unsaturated conjugated compounds, comprising reacting a precursor monomer of the formula I, ##STR1## wherein P denotes --SR.sup.3, --SO--R.sup.3, --SO.sub.2 --R.sup.3, --COOR.sup.3, --NO.sub.2, --CN, --CF.sub.3 or R.sup.3 ; L denotes --Cl, --Br, --I, --O-tosylate, --O-mesylate, --O-triflate, --(NR.sup.3.sub.3).sym. or --(SR.sup.3 R.sup.4).sym.; R.sup.1,R.sup.2 are the same or different and denote H, R.sup.3 or P; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and A are as defined in the application. This reaction is characterized in that, on reaction of the base with the compound of the formula (I), a polymer is formed which is essentially soluble in said solvent, and a salt is formed as a by-product, which is essentially soluble in the solvent. That solvent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a) amides of the general formula (II) R.sup.5 --CO--NR.sup.6 H; b) amines of the general formula (III) R.sup.7.sub.2 --N--R.sup.8 ; c) sulfones of the general formula (IV) R.sup.8 --SO.sub.2 --R.sup.9 ; d) sulfoxides of the general formula (V) R.sup.8 --SO--R.sup.9 ; and e) a solvent from the group consisting of alcohols, polyalcohols, glycols and polyethers, where R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, and R.sup.9 are as defined in the application. The process provides chemically and thermally stable, high molecular weight polymers of high purity and high regularity, in good yield. When the products of the novel process carry groups that undergo elimination to form double bonds, high quality electroluminescent materials can be prepared.

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Kortessem, Belgium

Michael Van Der Broght