Polymers containing backbone acetylene, anthracene and tetra-, penta- or hexa-coordinate silicon units: UV–visible, photoluminescence and solution χ(3) non-linear optical properties

Abstract

Poly(aryleneethynylenesilylene)s of general structure (CCSiR₂CCX)_n (X = 9,10-anthrylene) containing tetra-, penta- or hexa-coordinate silicon exhibit high χ⁽³⁾ values, the absorbance and emission spectra being red-shifted with respect to those for the corresponding monomers R₂Si- (CCAr)₂ (Ar = 9-anthryl); these properties are consistent with extensive through-Si conjugation along the backbone.