Method for preparing polymers containing cyclopentanone structures

Abstract

A method to electrolytically polymerize aromatic hydrocarbons and oxidize cyclopentane structures within the hydrocarbons into cyclopentanone structures is disclosed including a method to electrolyze fluorene in the presence of an ester to produce poly(9-fluorenone). A method to electrolytically oxidize polymers having cyclopentane structures to polymers having cyclopentanone structures is also disclosed including a method to electrolyze poly(fluorene) to produce poly(9-fluorenone). In addition, a method to chemically oxidize polymers containing cyclopentane structures into polymers containing cyclopentanone structures is disclosed, including a method to oxidize poly(fluorene), with a chemically prepared oxidizing agent, to produce poly(9-fluorenone).

1 . A polymer produced by a method for production of a polymer having at least one unit that contains at least one cyclopentanone structure condensed with at least two aromatic rings, the method comprising: 
 a first electrolysis wherein an electric current is passed between two or more electrodes immersed in an electrolytic mixture comprising an ester, an electrolyte and an aromatic compound having at least one cyclopentane structure condensed with at least two aromatic rings;    harvesting the resultant polymer from the first electrolysis; and    a second electrolysis wherein an electric current is passed between two or more electrodes immersed in an electrolytic mixture, one or more of the electrodes including the harvested polymer from the first electrolysis, and the electrolytic mixture comprising an ester and an electrolyte.    
     
     
         2 . The polymer of  claim 1  wherein at least 30% by weight of the polymer are units that contain at least one cyclopentanone structure condensed with at least two aromatic rings.  
     
     
         3 . The polymer of  claim 1  wherein at least 50% by weight of the polymer are units that contain at least one cyclopentanone structure condensed with at least two aromatic rings.  
     
     
         4 . The polymer of  claim 1  wherein at least 70% by weight of the polymer are units that contain at least one cyclopentanone structure condensed with at least two aromatic rings.  
     
     
         5 . A light-emitting diode comprising the polymer produced according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . The light-emitting diode of  claim 5  wherein the light-emitting diode is a multilayer light-emitting diode.