Conducting poly(azomethine)esters: synthesis, characterization and insight into the electronic properties using DFT calculations

Abstract

A poly(azomethine)ester was synthesized via solution phase polycondensation of isophthaloyl chloride and preformed 4-((2-(4-hydroxibenzylideneamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenol (SB). Various aliphatic and aromatic moieties were incorporated in the parent chain to process them and for examining their effect on the conducting properties. To provide an insight into the electronic properties, DFT calculations at the 6-31G/B3LYP level were carried out. Emphasis was placed on exploring the Frontier electron density, energy gaps and electrostatic potential maps to predict their conducting behaviour and electrophilic/nucleophilic reactivity. Our results based on experimental data and theoretical studies showed that in spite of some discrepancies, the electronic properties can be approximated theoretically to design a material having the desired properties for organic electronic devices. The material was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies and elemental analysis.