# A Novel Poly{(2,5-diyl furan) (benzylidene)}: A New Synthetic Approach and Electronic Properties

Authors: Abdelkader Belmokhtar; Ahmed Yahiaoui; Aïcha Hachemaoui; Benyoucef Abdelghani; Nabahat Sahli; Mohammed Belbachir
Journal: ISRN Physical Chemistry
 (2012)

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## Abstract

A new conjugated aromatic poly[(furan-2, 5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)]  has been prepared by polycondensation of benzaldehyde and furan catalyzed by  Maghnite-H+. Maghnite-H+ is a montmorillonite sheet silicate clay, which exchanged with protons. These polymers can be dissolved in high polar solvents such as DMSO, DMF, THF, or CHCl3 A kind of band-gap conjugated poly[(furan-2, 5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] has been synthesized by a simple method and characterized by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, FT-IR, and UV-Vis. The result reveals that the band-gap of the PFB conjugated polymer has an optical band gap of  2.2 eV.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Intensive research efforts in the field of organic photovoltaics during the last 15 years has resulted in a gradual improvement of the efficiencies of organic solar cells, up to the level of 4–6% achieved during the period 2005–2008 [1–8]. The discovery of electrical conductivity of organic conjugated polymers has opened a novel and very important field of modern functional material science. In the past few years, a conducting polyaniline (PAN) has been the center of great interest because of its high electrical conductivity and chemical stability [9–11]. The discovery of electrical conductivity of organic conjugated polymers has opened a novel and very important field of modern functional material science. The heterocyclic polymers, such as polypyrrole and polythiophene, have also received a great deal of interest due to their high conductivity in the doped state accompanied by a much higher stability in air [9–13]. However, polyfuran has attracted relatively less attention because the polyfuran with a regular structure and high conductivity was synthesized with difficulty.Recently, an Algerian proton exchanged montmorillonite clay called Maghnite-H+ (Mag-H+), a new nontoxic cationic initiator, was used as a catalyst for cationic polymerization of a number of vinylic and heterocyclic monomers [14–16].In the present work, we present a new approach to design poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] (PFB) in one shot, namely, by the condensation of furan and benzaldehyde catalyzed by Mag-H+ (Figure 1). In contrast to most of the other conductive polymers, PFB is a soluble polymer in commons organic solvents. The catalyst can be easily separated from the polymer product and regenerated by heating at a temperature above 0°C. The effects of different synthesis parameters, such as the amount of Mag-H+, temperature, monomer, furan, and benzaldehyde are discussed.Figure 1
The synthetic route of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] (PFB) by Mag-H+ catalyst.


## 2. Experimental

### 2.1. Materials

Furan was purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. and distilled under reduced pressure. Dichloromethane and benzaldehyde were used as received. The molecular structure of the polymer was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy (Perkin-Elmer System).UV spectra were obtained by an OPTIZEN 2120 UV-Vis spectrometer using the dichloromethane solution of polymers with a concentration of 0, 00125 mg/mL.1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR measurements were carried out on a 300 MHz Bruker NMR Spectrometer equipped with a probe BB05 mm, in CDCl3. Tetramethylsilane (TMS) was used as the internal standard in these cases.


### 2.2. Polymer Preparation

In a 50 mL beaker, furan (6 mmol) and benzaldehyde (6 mmol) were dissolved in 10 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and a chosen amount of Maghnite-H+ was added. The weight ratio (Maghnite-H+/Fu; BA) was kept constant (at the desired value) in all flask. At the end of the reaction, the resulting mixture was filtered to remove the clay and then slowly added to methanol with stirring and then the polymer was dried under vacuum at room temperature for 24 h.


## 2.1. Materials

Furan was purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. and distilled under reduced pressure. Dichloromethane and benzaldehyde were used as received. The molecular structure of the polymer was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy (Perkin-Elmer System).UV spectra were obtained by an OPTIZEN 2120 UV-Vis spectrometer using the dichloromethane solution of polymers with a concentration of 0, 00125 mg/mL.1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR measurements were carried out on a 300 MHz Bruker NMR Spectrometer equipped with a probe BB05 mm, in CDCl3. Tetramethylsilane (TMS) was used as the internal standard in these cases.


## 2.2. Polymer Preparation

In a 50 mL beaker, furan (6 mmol) and benzaldehyde (6 mmol) were dissolved in 10 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and a chosen amount of Maghnite-H+ was added. The weight ratio (Maghnite-H+/Fu; BA) was kept constant (at the desired value) in all flask. At the end of the reaction, the resulting mixture was filtered to remove the clay and then slowly added to methanol with stirring and then the polymer was dried under vacuum at room temperature for 24 h.


## 3. Results and Discussion

Most of the PFB were found to be soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), CH2C12, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and sulfolane. Although polymers have highly conjugated chains due to the high degree of dehydrogenation, they were very soluble in organic solvents such as THF, giving grey solutions of high concentrations. The very good solubility of polymers in spite of their high degree of π-conjugation is due largely to the bulky side groups (Φ) at the methane carbon =C (Φ) link and also to the low molecular weight to some extent.Figure2 presents the FTIR spectrum of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)], that shows the appearance of a strong absorption at 1664 cm−1 which is attributed to the stretching vibration of conjugated C=C and the stretching vibration of aromatic in phenylene. A distinct peack near 783 cm−1 is due the out of plane vibration Cβ–H characteristic of the α-linkage in furan rings. The peak at 1012 cm−1 is due the vibration of C–O in furan.Figure 2
FT-IR spectrum of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] product of the reaction.Figure3 presents the UV-vis spectrum of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl) (benzylidene)] in CH2Cl2. Two absorption bands appear in the UV-vis spectrum of the virgin polymer solution in CH2Cl2. The strong absorption (band I) at 260 nm is assigned to the π-π* transition of the furan rings of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] backbone, and a weak absorption (band II) around 500 nm to the n-π* transition of the quinoid rings [17–19].Figure 3
The UV-Vis spectra of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] in CH2Cl2.In1H RMN spectrum (Figure 4), the characteristic methine hydrogen resonance at about 5.47 ppm for precursors completely disappeared, but a new proton resonance of 7.2–7.8 ppm was observed, indicating the formation of the quinoid rings in the polymer backbone. The polymers so obtained are readily solution common organic solvents, such as chloroform, dichloromethane, and THF.Figure 4
1H-NMR spectrum (300 MHz) of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] (solvent, CDCl3).In Figure5, 13C NMR spectrum of the poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] exhibits a signal at 140 ppm that can be assigned to the carbon atoms in the α-position on furan units, whereas the signal at 155 ppm is related to the same α-carbons in the terminal furan rings, where the shielding effect is weaker. Moreover, the strongest signal around 128 ppm may be ascribed to the carbon atoms in the poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] chains. A similar 13C NMR spectrum of an ordered oligo(furan) has been reported [15]. These findings further confirm that the polyfuran obtained here consists essentially of a π-conjugated structure.Figure 5
13C-NMR spectrum (300 MHz) of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl) (benzylidene)] (solvent, CDCl3).


### 3.1. Effect of the Amount of Mag-H+

Figure6 shows the effect of the amount of Mag-H+, expressed by using various weight ratios Mag-H+/monomer, on the polymerization rate. The polymerization was carried out in bulk. The yield of PFB increased with the amount of Mag-H+, in which the effect of Mag-H+ as a cationic catalyst for furan and benzaldehyde copolymerization is clearly shown. Similar results are obtained by Yahiaoui et al. [20–22] in the polymerization of epichlorhydrin, propylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide by Mag-H+ and the polymerization of styrene by montmorillonite, respectively. This phenomenon is probably the result of the number of “initiating active sites” responsible of inducing polymerization, this number is prorating to the catalyst amount used in reaction.Figure 6
Effect of the amount of Mag-H+ on the yield of PFB.


### 3.2. Effect of Time on Condensation

Figure7 shows the yield of polymer versustime for polymerization of furan using Mag-H+ as catalyst. As the figure shows, polymerization takes place rapidly and smoothly, reaching a conversion of 32% after 6 h. The polymerization yield became constant at that time; this is probably the result of an increase in the medium viscosity.Figure 7
Yield of PPCB at Maghnite-H+ = 5%, [benzaldehyde] = [furan] = 6 × 10−3 mol/L.


### 3.3. Effect of Temperature on the Polycondensation of Benzaldehyde and Furan

In the presence of Maghnite-H+ at various weight ratios Maghnite-H+/monomer, the polycondensation of benzaldehyde and furan was carried out for 180 minutes. The reaction was induced at different temperatures and the effect of temperature on polymerisation was studied. The results are shown in Figure 8. The yield of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] was found to increase with the temperature and it reaches a maximum at 25°C, above this value of temperature the conversion decreases.Figure 8
Effect of the temperature on the yield of PFB. Maghnite-H+ = 5%, t=6 h.Optical Results
When light passes through a medium, its behavior will depend on the proprieties of the medium and of the light (reflection, absorption, refraction and scattering). The refractive index in its real and imaginary parts or dielectric function is the response to interaction between the material and light. To well study these parameters, it is necessary to make the optical measurements (transmission and/or reflection) in the UV wavelength range. We present in Figure9 the transmittance T and absorptance A spectra normalized with regard to the basic line in the range wavelength from 190 to 1100 nm [23]. We distinguish clearly two regions in these spectra.(i) Region A or Absorption Region
In this range the transmittance and absorptance spectra show a strong variation with diminution the transmittance spectrum and increase the level of absorptance. In this range, we can deduce from the transmittance spectra the absorption coefficientα(ω) at frequency ω, by the following relation [24]:
(1)α(ω)=-1dln⁡[T],
where d is the thickness of the film and T its transmittance normalized by background.  For the material no dispersive, the reflectance spectrum R is calculated by
(2)R=1-A-T.(ii) Region B or Transparency Region
In this range of wavelength, the optical transmittance remains practically constant at 0.98 (98%) and the absorptance is typically equal to zero. In this region, we can determined the refractive indexn, where R is related to refractive index n for the normally incidence by relation
(3)R=(n-1n+1)2.
From this expression, we can deduce the refractive index in transparency region:
(4)n=1+R1-R.
The values found for the refractive index at room temperature for unpolarized light are represented in Figure 10. From the results shown in this figure it clearly appears that the refractive index decrease rapidly (1.9 to 1.4) in the wavelength range from 190 to 500 nm and remains constant in the region between 500 and 1100 nm.
This behavior is in a good agreement with results found for semiconductors such as silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) [25, 26]. For determining the refractive index in all wavelength range studied, we simulated this parameter by Cauchy model [27]. Cauchy’s equation is an empirical relationship between the refractive index n and wavelength λ of light for particular transparent material. The most general form of Cauchy’s equation is
(5)n(λ)=A+Bλ2+Cλ4+⋯,
where A,B,C,…, are coefficients that can be determined for a material by fitting the equation to measured refractive indices at known wavelengths. Usually, it is sufficient to use a two term form of the following equation:
(6)n(λ)=A+Bλ2.
We notice that both spectra are perfectly superposed in the high wavelengths range from 500 to 1100 nm. We can by this model generalize the refractive index variation on the low wavelengths range (from 190 to 500 nm). In order to understand this phenomenon well, the values of the static refractive index n0 (refractive index at zero energy: that is, n0=n(ℏω=0)) is determined from the analysis of the Wemple and Didominico one oscillator model [28]. According to this model, the dispersion relation of the refractive index is given by
(7)n2(ℏω)=1+ED⋅EmEm2-(ℏω)2,
where Em denotes the average gap ED denotes the dispersion energy related to the coordination number of the atoms. The static refractive index n0, average gap Em, and dispersion energy ED are deduced by considering the variation of [n2(ℏω)-1]-1 as function of (ℏω)2 (Figure 11). The values obtained for these parameters by this analysis are
(8)Em=2.43eV,ED≈1.5eV,n0=1.4.
The difference is obtained in values for average gap Em by these models due principally to prediction of each. Nevertheless, the values found for Em show clearly that our material is a good semiconductor and can be compared to silicon or germanium, although the value of ED is relatively lower.
In Figure12, we represent the variation of absorption coefficient α(ω) determined by relation (1) and compared it with empirical relation given by
(9)α=2.303Ad.
This second relation is valid for a weak reflection on the surface of the film. These conditions are verified well in this range of absorption where the material is absorbent [29]. Figure 12 shows clearly a good agreement between these methods for this material.
From the absorption spectra, we determined the Tauc gap (ETauc) separating the extrema of the valence and conduction bands supposed parabolic and not perturbed by the disorder, by the extrapolation of the part strong absorption towards the weak energies according to the relation [30]
(10)[ℏω⋅α(ℏω)]1/2=cste(ℏω-ETauc).
In Figure 13, we show this variation and extrapolate the Tauc gap (ETauc). The value founded for this parameter is equal to 2.2±0.2 eV. This value is nattily lower than the average gap and compared to the good semiconductors, for example, the amorphous silicon and germanium [26].Figure 9
Transmittance and absorptance variation in UV-range.Figure 10
Refractive index variation in UV-range, and simulated curve by Cauchy model.Figure 11
Show the Wemple Didominico model for determined the average gapEm, dispersion energy ED, and static refraction index n0.Figure 12
Absorption coefficient,α, obtained from transmission spectra and empirical relation.Figure 13
Tauc gap optic,ETauc, variation separating the extrema of the valence and conduction bands.


## 3.1. Effect of the Amount of Mag-H+

Figure6 shows the effect of the amount of Mag-H+, expressed by using various weight ratios Mag-H+/monomer, on the polymerization rate. The polymerization was carried out in bulk. The yield of PFB increased with the amount of Mag-H+, in which the effect of Mag-H+ as a cationic catalyst for furan and benzaldehyde copolymerization is clearly shown. Similar results are obtained by Yahiaoui et al. [20–22] in the polymerization of epichlorhydrin, propylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide by Mag-H+ and the polymerization of styrene by montmorillonite, respectively. This phenomenon is probably the result of the number of “initiating active sites” responsible of inducing polymerization, this number is prorating to the catalyst amount used in reaction.Figure 6
Effect of the amount of Mag-H+ on the yield of PFB.


## 3.2. Effect of Time on Condensation

Figure7 shows the yield of polymer versustime for polymerization of furan using Mag-H+ as catalyst. As the figure shows, polymerization takes place rapidly and smoothly, reaching a conversion of 32% after 6 h. The polymerization yield became constant at that time; this is probably the result of an increase in the medium viscosity.Figure 7
Yield of PPCB at Maghnite-H+ = 5%, [benzaldehyde] = [furan] = 6 × 10−3 mol/L.


## 3.3. Effect of Temperature on the Polycondensation of Benzaldehyde and Furan

In the presence of Maghnite-H+ at various weight ratios Maghnite-H+/monomer, the polycondensation of benzaldehyde and furan was carried out for 180 minutes. The reaction was induced at different temperatures and the effect of temperature on polymerisation was studied. The results are shown in Figure 8. The yield of poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] was found to increase with the temperature and it reaches a maximum at 25°C, above this value of temperature the conversion decreases.Figure 8
Effect of the temperature on the yield of PFB. Maghnite-H+ = 5%, t=6 h.Optical Results
When light passes through a medium, its behavior will depend on the proprieties of the medium and of the light (reflection, absorption, refraction and scattering). The refractive index in its real and imaginary parts or dielectric function is the response to interaction between the material and light. To well study these parameters, it is necessary to make the optical measurements (transmission and/or reflection) in the UV wavelength range. We present in Figure9 the transmittance T and absorptance A spectra normalized with regard to the basic line in the range wavelength from 190 to 1100 nm [23]. We distinguish clearly two regions in these spectra.(i) Region A or Absorption Region
In this range the transmittance and absorptance spectra show a strong variation with diminution the transmittance spectrum and increase the level of absorptance. In this range, we can deduce from the transmittance spectra the absorption coefficientα(ω) at frequency ω, by the following relation [24]:
(1)α(ω)=-1dln⁡[T],
where d is the thickness of the film and T its transmittance normalized by background.  For the material no dispersive, the reflectance spectrum R is calculated by
(2)R=1-A-T.(ii) Region B or Transparency Region
In this range of wavelength, the optical transmittance remains practically constant at 0.98 (98%) and the absorptance is typically equal to zero. In this region, we can determined the refractive indexn, where R is related to refractive index n for the normally incidence by relation
(3)R=(n-1n+1)2.
From this expression, we can deduce the refractive index in transparency region:
(4)n=1+R1-R.
The values found for the refractive index at room temperature for unpolarized light are represented in Figure 10. From the results shown in this figure it clearly appears that the refractive index decrease rapidly (1.9 to 1.4) in the wavelength range from 190 to 500 nm and remains constant in the region between 500 and 1100 nm.
This behavior is in a good agreement with results found for semiconductors such as silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) [25, 26]. For determining the refractive index in all wavelength range studied, we simulated this parameter by Cauchy model [27]. Cauchy’s equation is an empirical relationship between the refractive index n and wavelength λ of light for particular transparent material. The most general form of Cauchy’s equation is
(5)n(λ)=A+Bλ2+Cλ4+⋯,
where A,B,C,…, are coefficients that can be determined for a material by fitting the equation to measured refractive indices at known wavelengths. Usually, it is sufficient to use a two term form of the following equation:
(6)n(λ)=A+Bλ2.
We notice that both spectra are perfectly superposed in the high wavelengths range from 500 to 1100 nm. We can by this model generalize the refractive index variation on the low wavelengths range (from 190 to 500 nm). In order to understand this phenomenon well, the values of the static refractive index n0 (refractive index at zero energy: that is, n0=n(ℏω=0)) is determined from the analysis of the Wemple and Didominico one oscillator model [28]. According to this model, the dispersion relation of the refractive index is given by
(7)n2(ℏω)=1+ED⋅EmEm2-(ℏω)2,
where Em denotes the average gap ED denotes the dispersion energy related to the coordination number of the atoms. The static refractive index n0, average gap Em, and dispersion energy ED are deduced by considering the variation of [n2(ℏω)-1]-1 as function of (ℏω)2 (Figure 11). The values obtained for these parameters by this analysis are
(8)Em=2.43eV,ED≈1.5eV,n0=1.4.
The difference is obtained in values for average gap Em by these models due principally to prediction of each. Nevertheless, the values found for Em show clearly that our material is a good semiconductor and can be compared to silicon or germanium, although the value of ED is relatively lower.
In Figure12, we represent the variation of absorption coefficient α(ω) determined by relation (1) and compared it with empirical relation given by
(9)α=2.303Ad.
This second relation is valid for a weak reflection on the surface of the film. These conditions are verified well in this range of absorption where the material is absorbent [29]. Figure 12 shows clearly a good agreement between these methods for this material.
From the absorption spectra, we determined the Tauc gap (ETauc) separating the extrema of the valence and conduction bands supposed parabolic and not perturbed by the disorder, by the extrapolation of the part strong absorption towards the weak energies according to the relation [30]
(10)[ℏω⋅α(ℏω)]1/2=cste(ℏω-ETauc).
In Figure 13, we show this variation and extrapolate the Tauc gap (ETauc). The value founded for this parameter is equal to 2.2±0.2 eV. This value is nattily lower than the average gap and compared to the good semiconductors, for example, the amorphous silicon and germanium [26].Figure 9
Transmittance and absorptance variation in UV-range.Figure 10
Refractive index variation in UV-range, and simulated curve by Cauchy model.Figure 11
Show the Wemple Didominico model for determined the average gapEm, dispersion energy ED, and static refraction index n0.Figure 12
Absorption coefficient,α, obtained from transmission spectra and empirical relation.Figure 13
Tauc gap optic,ETauc, variation separating the extrema of the valence and conduction bands.


## 4. Conclusions

Maghnite-H+, proton exchanged montmorillonite clay, is an effective initiator for the copolymerization of benzaldehyde with furan.A novel conjugated aromatic, poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)], which has aπ-conjugated chain was synthesized by Maghnite-H+. The resultant polymer showed good solubility in common organic solvents and good film formability. Such results may serve primarily to illustrate a new strategy to increase the solubility of low band gap polymers through the arrangement of different aromatic heterocycles in conjugated polymer backbones. The results obtained with optical measurements and analyzed by different models show clearly that our material poly[(furan-2,5-diyl)-co-(benzylidene)] is a good semiconductor, when the optical gap separating the extrema of the valence and conduction bands is around 2.2±0.2 eV. This value goes a good agreement with those found for the semiconductors materials such as Silicon and germanium.



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