阅读说明：本技术 具有电光效应的聚碳酸酯及其制造方法、以及使用该聚碳酸酯的光控制元件 (Polycarbonate having electro-optical effect, method for producing same, and light control element using same ) 是由 高桥直 山中克浩 大友明 山田俊树 于 2019-03-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的目的在于提供具有电光效应的新型聚合物、这样的聚合物的制造方法以及使用这样的聚合物的光控制元件。本发明涉及一种含有具有电光特性的部位的非交联性聚碳酸酯。另外,本发明涉及一种聚碳酸酯的制造方法,其包含使双酚系化合物、具有电光特性的二醇系化合物和光气在缚酸剂和溶剂的存在下反应的工序。另外,本发明涉及一种含有这样的聚碳酸酯的光控制元件。(The object of the present invention is to provide a novel polymer having an electro-optical effect, a method for producing such a polymer, and a light control element using such a polymer. The present invention relates to a non-crosslinked polycarbonate containing a site having electro-optical characteristics. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a polycarbonate, which comprises a step of reacting a bisphenol compound, a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and phosgene in the presence of an acid-binding agent and a solvent. The present invention also relates to a light control element containing such a polycarbonate.)

1. A non-crosslinked polycarbonate having a site having electro-optical characteristics.

2. The polycarbonate according to claim 1, which comprises a structural unit represented by the following formula (1),

wherein R1 to R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch, and X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, and a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch.

3. The polycarbonate of claim 2, wherein X comprises the following formula (2),

In the formula (I), the compound is shown in the specification,

at least one of R5 and R6 is selected from a halogen atom and a hydrocarbon group of 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a heteroatom and/or may have a branched, linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted carbon atom, and the other is selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a heteroatom and/or may have a branched, substituted or unsubstituted carbon atom, or

R5 and R6 are bonded to form a substituted or unsubstituted C4-20 cyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch.

4. The polycarbonate according to claim 3, wherein R5 and R6 are bonded to each other to form a cyclic group having 1 to 5 substituents independently selected from alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the cyclic group is selected from a cyclic alkyl group and an aryl group.

5. The polycarbonate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the weight average molecular weight is 20000 or more.

6. The polycarbonate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the glass transition temperature is 120 ℃ or higher.

7. The polycarbonate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the site having electro-optical properties comprises an electron-donating donor structure, an electron-accepting acceptor structure, and a conjugated bridge structure connecting the donor structure and the acceptor structure.

8. A method for producing a polycarbonate, comprising a step of reacting a bisphenol compound, a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and phosgene in the presence of an acid-binding agent and a solvent.

9. The production method according to claim 8, wherein the acid scavenger is pyridine.

10. The production method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein an end-capping agent is further reacted in the reaction.

11. The production method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of 35 ℃ or lower.

12. A light control element comprising the polycarbonate according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

13. An optical waveguide molded from the polycarbonate of any one of claims 1 to 7.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a polycarbonate having an electro-optical effect, a method for producing the same, and a light control element using the same.

Background

Heretofore, inorganic materials such as lithium niobate have been used as electro-optical materials that can be used for optical control elements such as optical modulators, optical switches, optical memories, optoelectronic circuits, wavelength conversion, electric field sensors, THz (Terahertz ) wave generators and receivers, holograms, and the like. However, such inorganic materials have a limit in high speed, and are still unsatisfactory for realizing next-generation ultrahigh-speed optical communication.

In view of the above, organic electro-optic polymers (hereinafter, also referred to as "EO polymers") exhibit a larger electro-optic effect (hereinafter, also referred to as "EO effect") than inorganic materials and can operate at high speed, and therefore, are expected as electro-optic materials that are responsible for next-generation optical communications. However, there are many problems to be solved in the device manufacturing process of the light control element, and the practical use thereof has not yet been achieved. The problem is the long-term high-temperature stability of the EO effect.

In relation to this problem, patent document 1 discloses a crosslinkable polymer composition containing a polymer having a site having electro-optical properties (hereinafter, also referred to as an "EO site") in a side chain thereof. In the invention described in patent document 1, the polymer has a crosslinking property, so that the movement of EO sites is restricted and a high glass transition temperature can be obtained. Thus, the crosslinkable polymer composition described in patent document 1 can provide a high EO effect and long-term high-temperature stability of the effect.

Patent document 2 discloses an acrylic EO polymer using a specific acrylic monomer. Since such an acrylic EO polymer has a high glass transition temperature, the orientation of the EO site obtained after the polarization treatment can be maintained for a long period of time, and long-term high-temperature stability of the EO effect can be obtained.

Electro-optical molecules are disclosed in, for example, patent documents 3 to 5 and non-patent documents 1 to 4.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a novel polymer with an electro-optic effect. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing such a polymer and a light control element using such a polymer.

The inventors of the present invention found that: the present invention having the following modes can solve the above problems.

Mode 1

A non-crosslinkable polycarbonate having a site having electro-optical properties.

Mode 2

The polycarbonate of embodiment 1, which comprises a structural unit represented by the following formula (1):

(wherein R1-R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon-based group having 1-20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or a branched chain; and X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, and a divalent hydrocarbon-based group having 1-30 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or a branched chain, a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted).

Mode 3

The polycarbonate of embodiment 2, wherein X comprises the following formula (2):

(wherein at least one of R5 and R6 is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom and a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon-based group of 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch, and the other is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and a hydrocarbon-based group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch, substituted or unsubstituted, or

R5 and R6 are bonded to form a C4-20 cyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branched, substituted or unsubstituted structure).

Mode 4

The polycarbonate according to mode 3, wherein R5 and R6 are bonded to each other to form a cyclic group having 1 to 5 substituents independently selected from alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the cyclic group is selected from a cyclic alkyl group or an aryl group.

Mode 5

The polycarbonate according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the weight average molecular weight is 20000 or more.

Mode 6

The polycarbonate according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the glass transition temperature is 120 ℃ or higher.

Mode 7

The polycarbonate according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the portion having electro-optical properties comprises: an electron donating donor moiety, an electron accepting acceptor moiety, and a conjugated bridge moiety connecting the donor moiety and the acceptor moiety.

Mode 8

A method for producing a polycarbonate, comprising the steps of: a bisphenol compound, a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and phosgene are reacted in the presence of an acid-binding agent and a solvent.

Mode 9

The production method according to mode 8, wherein the acid-binding agent is pyridine.

Mode 10

The production method according to mode 8 or 9, wherein in the reaction, an end-capping agent is further reacted.

Mode 11

The production method according to any one of aspects 8 to 10, wherein the reaction is performed at a temperature of 35 ℃ or lower.

Mode 12

A light control device comprising the polycarbonate according to any one of modes 1 to 7.

Mode 13

An optical waveguide molded from the polycarbonate described in any one of modes 1 to 7.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a configuration of an optical waveguide as one embodiment of an optical control element.

Detailed Description

Polycarbonates

The polycarbonate of the present invention contains EO sites and is non-crosslinkable.

In the present specification, the term "non-crosslinkable polymer" is used in a meaning different from that of the crosslinkable polymer described in patent document 1, and means, for example, that the crosslinkable functional group in the polymer is 10 mol%, 5 mol% or less, 3 mol% or less, 1 mol% or less, 0.5 mol% or less, 0.3 mol% or less, or 0.1 mol% or less.

The inventors of the present invention found that: by incorporating molecules with electro-optical properties into polycarbonate, both the high EO effect and the long term high temperature stability of the effect can be achieved. Further, it has been found that in the crosslinkable polymer composition described in patent document 1 and the acrylic EO polymer described in patent document 2, if a film is formed on a substrate and the film is peeled off from the substrate, the film is relatively easily broken, and there is a problem in terms of strength when used in a device. In addition, it is known that: the polycarbonate of the present invention has high transparency for near infrared light in the O-band (1260nm to 1360nm) and C-band (1530nm to 1565nm) used for optical communications, and is very useful for an optical control element.

The polycarbonate of the present invention can have a high glass transition temperature, and for example, the glass transition temperature may be 100 ℃ or higher, 110 ℃ or higher, 120 ℃ or higher, 130 ℃ or higher, 140 ℃ or higher, 150 ℃ or higher, 160 ℃ or higher, 170 ℃ or higher, 180 ℃ or higher, or 190 ℃ or higher, or may be 250 ℃ or lower, 230 ℃ or lower, 210 ℃ or lower, or 190 ℃ or lower. For example, the glass transition temperature may be from 100 ℃ to 250 ℃, from 120 ℃ to 230 ℃ or from 170 ℃ to 210 ℃. By having a glass transition temperature in such a range, long-term high-temperature stability of the EO effect can be obtained, and thermal decomposition of the EO site can be prevented in the polarization treatment.

Polymeric structure

The polycarbonate of the present invention may have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 10000 or more, 15000 or more, 18000 or more, 20000 or more, 25000 or more, 30000 or more, 35000 or more, 40000 or more, 45000 or more, or 50000 or more, or 300000 or less, 200000 or less, 150000 or less, or 100000 or less, as measured by a GPC method using chloroform as a solvent and standard polystyrene as a reference. For example, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) may be 15000 to 300000 or 40000 to 200000. The molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) may be 1.5 or more, 2.0 or more, 2.5 or more, 3.0 or more, 3.5 or more, 4.0 or more, 4.5 or more, or 5.0 or more, or may be 10.0 or less, 8.0 or less, 7.0 or less, or 6.0 or less. For example, the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) may be 1.5 to 10.0 or 3.0 to 8.0. Within such a range, sufficient strength and sufficient processability can be provided.

(Main constituent Unit)

The polycarbonate of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains a main constituent unit linked by a carbonate group in the main chain and is within a range in which the advantageous effects of the present invention as described above can be obtained.

Examples of such a structural unit include structural units derived from bisphenol compounds, and examples thereof include structural units represented by the following formula (1):

(wherein R1-R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon-based group having 1-20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or a branched chain; and X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, and a divalent hydrocarbon-based group having 1-30 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or a branched chain, a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted).

Preferably, in the formula (1), R1 to R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkoxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aralkyloxy group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms. X is a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene (alkylene) having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylidene (alkylidene) having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom.

In the formula (1), in the constituent unit represented by the formula (1), R1 to R4 are preferably each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

In the formula (1), X is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 30 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch, or a substituted or unsubstituted divalent linear hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and contains a cyclic group in a branch portion.

More preferably, in the formula (1), X contains the following formula (2):

(wherein at least one of R5 and R6 is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom and a linear or cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon-based group of 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch, and the other is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and a hydrocarbon-based group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch, substituted or unsubstituted, or

R5 and R6 are bonded to each other to form a substituted or unsubstituted C4-20 cyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch).

More preferably, at least one of R5 and R6 contains a C4-20 cyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branched chain, and may be substituted or unsubstituted, or R5 and R6 are bonded to form the cyclic hydrocarbon group.

Particularly preferably, R5 and R6 are bonded to each other to form a cyclic group having 1 to 5 substituents independently selected from alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the cyclic group is selected from a cyclic alkyl group or an aryl group.

By selecting X having a large volume in this manner, the glass transition temperature of polycarbonate tends to be high. Further, there is a tendency that the γ dispersion temperature of the polycarbonate, that is, the temperature at which the rotation around the axial direction of the main chain starts, also becomes high. The present inventors have found that the γ dispersion temperature affects the long-term high-temperature stability of a polycarbonate-based EO polymer used in a light control element in addition to the glass transition temperature, and have found that X is preferably selected as described above. On the other hand, the present inventors have also found that when the volume of X is too large, the transparency of the polymer to near-infrared light in the O-band (1260nm to 1360nm) and C-band (1530nm to 1565nm) wavelength bands used for optical communication is lowered, and found that X in the above-mentioned range is preferably selected.

In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, "substituted" means substituted with a straight-chain or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may have a hetero atom and/or may have a branch. In this case, a plurality of the substituents may be present. Further, examples of the "hetero atom" include an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom.

In order to introduce the above-mentioned constituent unit, a bisphenol compound may be used, and in particular, a bisphenol compound of the following formula (3):

(wherein R1 to R4 and X are as defined above, and preferably R1 to R4 and X are also as defined above).

Specifically, the following bisphenol compounds can be used: 1, 1-bis- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane (hereinafter referred to as bisphenol TMC), 2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (hereinafter referred to as bisphenol A), 2-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) propane, 2-bis (4-hydroxy-3-isopropylphenyl) propane, 2-bis (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2-bis (3-phenyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2-bis (3, 5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2-bis (3, 5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2-bis (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2-bis (3, 5-diphenyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 1-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) cyclohexane, 1, 1-bis (4-hydroxy-3-isopropylphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (3-phenyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-diphenyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (4-hydroxy-2, 3,5, 6-tetramethylphenyl) cyclohexane, 1-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 1-bis (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1, 1-bis (3-phenyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 1-bis (3, 5-diphenyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 1-bis (4-hydroxy-2, 3,5, 6-tetramethylphenyl) -3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexane, 4 '-dihydroxy-3, 3' -dimethyl-1, 1-biphenyl, 4 '-dihydroxy-3, 3' -dioctyl-1, 1-biphenyl, 1, 3-bis (2- (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) -2-propyl) benzene, 1, 4-bis (2- (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) -2-propyl) benzene, 9-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) fluorene, 4 '-dihydroxy-3, 3' -dimethyldiphenyl ether, 3 '-dimethyl-4, 4' -dihydroxydiphenyl sulfide, bis (4-hydroxy-2, 6-dimethyl-3-methoxyphenyl) methane, 2-bis (4-hydroxy-3-ethylphenyl) propane, 1-bis (3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) decane, 1-bis (2, 3-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) decane.

Among them, bisphenol TMC represented by the following formula (4) and the like are particularly preferable:

bisphenol TMC has a greatly restricted mobility of molecules because the portion corresponding to the above X to which 2 phenols are bonded is a cyclic group and a plurality of substituents are present on the cyclic group. As a result, a high glass transition temperature and a high γ dispersion temperature can be imparted to the polycarbonate, and the polycarbonate is particularly useful for applications of light control elements. Bisphenol compounds having a large partial volume corresponding to X are useful as bisphenol TMC.

The polycarbonate of the present invention may contain a constituent unit derived from a bisphenol compound at 50 mol% or more, 55 mol% or more, 60 mol% or more, 65 mol% or more, 70 mol% or more, 75 mol% or more, 80 mol% or more, 85 mol% or more, or 90 mol% or more, or may contain a constituent unit derived from a bisphenol compound at 99 mol% or less, 95 mol% or less, 90 mol% or less, 85 mol% or less, 80 mol% or less, 75 mol% or less, or 70 mol% or less. For example, the polycarbonate of the present invention may contain 50 to 99 mol% or 70 to 90 mol% of a constituent unit derived from a bisphenol compound. If it is within such a range, the strength and EO effect of the obtained polycarbonate tend to become sufficient. Here, the molar ratio may be theoretically derived from the raw materials used, and it can be calculated from the peak area ratio of the spectrum of each constituent unit by dissolving 40mg of polycarbonate in 0.6ml of deuterated chloroform solution, measuring 1H-NMR using a 400MHz nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus manufactured by Japan Electron.

(site having electro-optical characteristics)

The EO moiety contained in the polycarbonate of the present invention may be bonded as a pendant group to a functional group of a side chain of a polymer after polymerization, or may be bonded to a polymer as a part of a copolymer by using a precursor compound of the moiety as a monomer.

The EO site is not particularly limited as long as it is oriented in the direction of an electric field by heating the polymer to which it is bonded to a glass transition temperature or higher and applying the electric field, and then the orientation is maintained by cooling to a temperature of the glass transition temperature or lower (so-called polarization treatment).

In order to avoid decomposition under heating in the polarization treatment, the EO site contained in the polymer of the present invention may have a decomposition resistance temperature of 120 ℃ or higher, 140 ℃ or higher, 160 ℃ or higher, 180 ℃ or higher, 200 ℃ or higher, or 220 ℃ or higher, or may have a decomposition resistance temperature of 300 ℃ or lower, 250 ℃ or lower, 230 ℃ or lower, or 200 ℃ or lower. The decomposition resistant temperature can be 120-300 ℃ or 140-250 ℃.

The molar ratio of the EO sites contained in the polymer of the present invention may be 1 mol% or more, 3 mol% or more, 5 mol% or more, 8 mol% or more, 10 mol% or more, 15 mol% or more, or 20 mol% or more, or may be 50 mol% or less, 40 mol% or less, 30 mol% or less, 25 mol% or less, 20 mol% or less, 15 mol% or less, or 10 mol% or less. The molar ratio of the EO sites may be 1 to 50 mol% or 10 to 30 mol%. Alternatively, the EO moiety may be contained in a weight ratio of 1 wt% or more, 3 wt% or more, 5 wt% or more, 8 wt% or more, 10 wt% or more, 15 wt% or more, 20 wt% or more, 25 wt% or more, or 30 wt% or more, or 35 wt% or more, or may be contained in a weight ratio of 80 wt% or less, 65 wt% or less, 50 wt% or less, 45 wt% or less, 40 wt% or less, 35 wt% or less, or 30 wt% or less. The weight ratio of the EO moiety may be 1 to 80% by weight or 20 to 50% by weight. If it is within such a range, the strength and EO effect of the obtained polycarbonate tend to become sufficient. Here, the molar ratio and the weight ratio may be theoretically derived from the raw materials used, and 40mg of polycarbonate may be dissolved in 0.6ml of deuterated chloroform solution, 1H-NMR may be measured using a 400MHz nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus manufactured by Japan Electron, and the ratio of the peak areas of the spectra of the constituent units may be calculated.

The EO moiety may have an electron donating donor moiety D, an electron accepting acceptor moiety a, and a conjugated bridge moiety P connecting the donor moiety D and the acceptor moiety a. In this case, the EO site may be bonded to the polymer through either the donor moiety D or the acceptor moiety a, and is preferably bonded to the polymer through the donor moiety D.

The donor structure D is not particularly limited as long as it is bonded to the conjugated bridge structure P via a conjugated bond and has an electron donating group. The donor structure D may be, for example, a substituted or unsubstituted conjugated cyclic group containing a moiety bonded to the conjugated bridge structure P via a conjugated bond, a bonding moiety to the polymer, and an electron donating group. In this case, the portion bonded to the conjugated bridge structure portion P and the portion bonded to the polymer through a conjugated bond may be a part of the electron donating group, or may be a portion directly bonded to the conjugated cyclic group.

Examples of the conjugated cyclic group of the donor structure D include monocyclic or polycyclic cyclic hydrocarbon groups or heterocyclic groups in which conjugated electrons are present in the ring, and specifically include aromatic rings or heteroaromatic rings.

The electron donating group of the donor structure D may be bonded to the conjugated cyclic group or may be contained in a substituent of the conjugated cyclic group. Examples of the electron donating group include an amino group, particularly a tertiary amino group bonded to a conjugated cyclic group and constituting a part of the main chain of the polymer.

The donor moiety D preferably contains an aminobenzene, and particularly preferably contains an aminobenzene having an alkoxy group.

The bridge structure P is not particularly limited as long as the donor structure D and the acceptor structure a are connected by a conjugated bond, and may be, for example, only a carbon-carbon conjugated bond. For example, the bridge moiety P may be a partial bridge moiety P which is a substituted or unsubstituted conjugated cyclic group including a moiety bonded to the donor moiety D via a carbon-carbon conjugated bond and a moiety bonded to the acceptor moiety a via a carbon-carbon conjugated bond, and preferably has a thienyl group, and particularly preferably has a thienylene structure.

The acceptor structure portion a is not particularly limited as long as it is bonded to the conjugated bridge structure portion P by a conjugated bond and has an electron-withdrawing group. The acceptor structure portion a may be, for example, a substituted or unsubstituted conjugated cyclic group or a conjugated linear hydrocarbon group containing a portion bonded to the conjugated bridge structure portion P by a conjugated bond and an electron-withdrawing group. In this case, the portion bonded to the conjugated bridge structure portion P by a conjugated bond may be a portion directly bonded to the conjugated cyclic group or the conjugated linear hydrocarbon group.

Examples of the conjugated cyclic group of the acceptor moiety a include monocyclic or polycyclic cyclic hydrocarbon groups or heterocyclic groups in which conjugated electrons are present in the ring.

The electron-withdrawing group of the acceptor structure portion a may be bonded to the conjugated cyclic group or the conjugated linear hydrocarbon group, or may be included in the substituent of the conjugated cyclic group. Examples of the electron-withdrawing group include a nitrile group (-CN), a fluorocarbon group (for example, trifluoromethyl), and the like. The electron-withdrawing group is preferably present in plural at the acceptor moiety a.

The acceptor moiety a preferably contains a tricyanofuran derivative, and particularly preferably contains a tricyanofuran derivative containing a trifluoromethyl group.

Such an EO moiety can be obtained, for example, by bonding a molecule having second-order nonlinear optical characteristics as described in patent documents 3 to 5, non-patent documents 1 to 4, and the like to a polymer.

In order to bond the EO moiety to the polymer during polymerization, a diol compound having an electro-optical property may be used as a monomer. For example, a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics may be used as a starting material for synthesizing the compound. For example, in example 66 of patent document 5, 4-butylamino-1-butanol was used as a starting material to finally obtain a monohydroxy compound having electro-optical characteristics, but a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics can be obtained by using the starting material as a diol and appropriately changing the reaction conditions and the reaction steps.

Specifically, examples of the diol-based compound having electro-optical properties include the following compounds:

d, P and A shown below the above formula represent the donor moiety D, the conjugated bridge moiety P and the acceptor moiety A, respectively.

In order to bond the EO moiety to the polymer at the time of polymerization, a trifunctional or higher compound described below may be used as a monomer, and a monohydroxy compound having second-order nonlinear optical characteristics described in patent document 5 or the like may be reacted with the trifunctional or higher compound to incorporate the monohydroxy reactant into the polycarbonate.

(other constituent units)

Examples of the constituent unit other than the bisphenol compound and the electro-optical molecule include a constituent unit derived from an aliphatic diol. Examples of such aliphatic diols include isosorbide: 1,4: 3, 6-dianhydro-D-sorbitol, Tricyclodecanedimethanol (TCDDM), 4, 8-bis (hydroxymethyl) tricyclodecane, Tetramethylcyclobutanediol (TMCBD), 2,4, 4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1, 3-diol, mixed isomers, cis/trans-1, 4-Cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), cis/trans-1, 4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, 1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol, trans-1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol (tCHDM), trans-1, 4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, cis-1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol (cCHDM), cis-1, 4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, cis-1, 2-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1 '-bis (cyclohexyl) -4, 4' -diol, spiroglycol, dicyclohexyl-4, 4 '-diol, 4' -dihydroxybicyclohexane and poly (ethylene glycol).

In addition, as other constituent units, constituent units derived from fatty acids can be mentioned. Thus, the polycarbonates according to the invention may be polyester carbonates. Examples of such fatty acids include 1, 10-dodecanedioic acid (DDDA), adipic acid, hexanedicarboxylic acid, isophthalic acid, 1, 3-phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, 1, 4-phthalic acid, 2, 6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (mHBA), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA).

The polycarbonate of the present invention may contain a constituent unit derived from a polyorganosiloxane, if necessary.

The polycarbonate of the present invention may contain a constitutional unit derived from a trifunctional or higher-functional compound, as long as it is non-crosslinkable, and may be a branched polycarbonate. Examples of the trifunctional or higher-functional compound used for the branched polycarbonate include polyfunctional aromatic compounds, and specifically, triphenols such as 4, 6-dimethyl-2, 4, 6-tris (4-hydroxydiphenyl) -2-heptene, 2,4, 6-trimethyl-2, 4, 6-tris (4-hydroxyphenyl) heptane, 1,3, 5-tris (4-hydroxyphenyl) benzene, 1,1, 1-tris (4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, 1,1, 1-tris (3, 5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, 2, 6-bis (2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl) -4-methylphenol, and 4- { 4- [1, 1-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl ] benzene } - α, α -dimethylbenzyl phenol are preferably used. Among them, 1,1, 1-tris (4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane is preferable.

The branched structural unit may be derived not only from the polyfunctional compound but also from a side reaction occurring during the polymerization reaction by the melt transesterification method. The proportion of such branched structures can be calculated by 1H-NMR measurement.

(end groups)

The polycarbonate of the present invention is preferably end-capped. That is, the terminal group of the polycarbonate of the present invention is preferably not a chlorine group or a hydroxyl group. The mechanical properties and the like can be improved by capping the terminal of the polycarbonate of the present invention. For example, it is preferable that 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 98% or more of the terminal groups of the polycarbonate of the present invention are blocked, that is, not chlorine groups or hydroxyl groups.

For example, in order to provide such terminal groups, an end-capping agent may be used in the polymerization of the polycarbonate. Examples of such a terminal-blocking agent include monofunctional phenol compounds, and specific examples thereof include phenol, m-methylphenol, p-methylphenol, m-propylphenol, p-propylphenol, 1-phenylphenol, 2-phenylphenol, p-tert-butylphenol, p-cumylphenol, isooctylphenol, and p-long-chain alkylphenols. Such an end-capping agent is particularly useful in the production of the polycarbonate of the present invention by phosgene.

Process for producing polycarbonate

The polycarbonate of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can produce a polymer that can obtain the advantageous effects of the present invention.

However, from the viewpoint of obtaining a high molecular weight polycarbonate, the polycarbonate of the present invention can be produced by a method comprising a step of reacting the bisphenol compound, the diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and phosgene in the presence of an acid-binding agent and a solvent.

The phrase "reacting a bisphenol compound, a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and phosgene in the presence of an acid-binding agent and a solvent" includes "reacting a reaction product of a bisphenol compound and phosgene with a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics in the presence of an acid-binding agent and a solvent" and "reacting a reaction product of a bisphenol compound, a diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and phosgene with an amine compound as an acid-binding agent and a solvent".

Examples of the acid-binding agent include alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and amine compounds such as pyridine, and among them, pyridine can be particularly used. The amount of the acid-binding agent, particularly the amount of the amine compound such as pyridine, may be 5 parts by mass or more, 10 parts by mass or more, or 15 parts by mass or more, or 30 parts by mass or less, or 20 parts by mass or less, based on 100 parts by mass of the solvent.

Examples of the solvent include halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, dichloroethane, and chlorobenzene, and among them, dichloromethane can be particularly used.

The amount of the monomer used may be 5 parts by mass or more, 10 parts by mass or more, or 15 parts by mass or more, or 30 parts by mass or less, or 20 parts by mass or less, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the solvent. For example, the amount of the monomer may be 5 to 30 parts by mass or 10 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the solvent.

The amount of phosgene may be 0.5 mol or more, 0.8 mol or more, 1.0 mol or more, 1.5 mol or more, or 2.0 mol or more, or may be 3.0 mol or less, 2.0 mol or less, 1.8 mol or less, or 1.5 mol or less based on 1 mol of the bisphenol compound. In such a range, there is a tendency that a polymer having a high molecular weight can be obtained. For example, the amount of phosgene may be 0.5 to 3.0 moles or 0.8 to 2.0 moles based on 1 mole of the bisphenol compound.

In the above reaction, it is preferable to further react the above-mentioned end-capping agent. The amount of the end-capping agent to be used may be 0.1 part by mass or more, 0.3 part by mass or more, 0.5 part by mass or more, or 1.0 part by mass or more, or may be 3 parts by mass or less, 2 parts by mass or less, 1 part by mass or less, or 0.5 part by mass or less, relative to 100 parts by mass of the monomer. For example, the amount of the end-capping agent may be 0.1 to 3 parts by mass or 0.3 to 2 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the solvent.

The reaction may be carried out at a temperature of 60 ℃ or lower, 50 ℃ or lower, 40 ℃ or lower, 35 ℃ or lower, 30 ℃ or lower, or 25 ℃ or lower, or at a temperature of 0 ℃ or higher, 10 ℃ or higher, 15 ℃ or higher, 20 ℃ or higher, or 25 ℃ or higher. For example, the reaction temperature may be from 0 ℃ to 60 ℃ or from 10 ℃ to 50 ℃. The reaction time is not particularly limited as long as the residual monomer is sufficiently reduced to obtain a polymer having a high molecular weight, and may be, for example, 30 minutes or more, 1 hour or more, 2 hours or more, or 3 hours or more, or 10 hours or less, 5 hours or less, or 3 hours or less. For example, the reaction time may be 30 minutes to 10 hours or 1 hour to 5 hours.

The reaction may comprise: a 1 st step of blowing phosgene into the reaction mixture at a relatively low temperature while allowing the reaction to proceed, and a 2 nd step of stopping the blowing of phosgene and continuing the reaction at a relatively high temperature thereafter. For example, the step 1 may be performed at a temperature in the range of 0 to 35 ℃, for example, 10 to 30 ℃, and the step 2 may be performed at a temperature in the range of 20 to 50 ℃, for example, 25 to 35 ℃. In this case, the reaction temperature of the 2 nd process may be higher than that of the 1 st process. These steps may be performed for 10 minutes or more, 30 minutes or more, 1 hour or more, or 2 hours or more, or may be performed for 5 hours or less, 3 hours or less, 2 hours or less, or 1 hour or less, respectively.

The polycarbonate of the present invention can be produced by an ester exchange reaction between a carbonate precursor material, for example, a carbonic acid diester, and the above-mentioned bisphenol compound and the above-mentioned diol compound having electro-optical properties.

In this case, the reaction can be carried out by stirring the bisphenol compound, the diol compound having electro-optical characteristics, and the carbonic acid diester while heating in an inert gas atmosphere, and distilling off the produced alcohol or phenol compound while reducing the pressure in the system. In this case, the reaction temperature varies depending on the boiling point of the alcohol or phenol compound to be produced, and is usually within a range of 120 to 300 ℃.

Examples of the carbonic acid diester include diphenyl carbonate, dinaphthyl carbonate, bis (diphenyl) carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, and the like, and among them, diphenyl carbonate can be particularly used.

In this reaction, a catalyst generally used in the transesterification reaction can be used. In addition, the blocking agents described above may also be used.

Polycarbonate resin composition

The polycarbonate of the present invention may be used as a polycarbonate resin composition by mixing the polycarbonate with a known functional agent such as a mold release agent, a heat stabilizer, an ultraviolet absorber, a flow modifier, and an antistatic agent, as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

Light control element

The light control element of the present invention contains at least the polycarbonate. The polycarbonate and the polycarbonate resin composition can be preferably used as a material constituting a light control element because of their high EO effect, high long-term high-temperature stability of the effect, and high mechanical properties.

The Light control element of the present invention can be used in, for example, an optical modulator, an optical switch, a multi-core switch, an optical interconnect, on-chip optical wiring, an optical phased array, LiDAR (Light detection and Ranging), an electric field sensor, a THz wave generator, a THz sensor, a high-sensitivity/high-signal-to-noise ratio electroencephalograph, a brain-computer interface (BMI), a hologram, and the like, by using a conventionally known method. Among them, the light control element may be, in particular, an optical modulator or an optical switch.

For example, the optical control element of the present invention may be a mach-zehnder type optical waveguide as shown in fig. 1. The optical waveguide 8 shown in fig. 1 includes a lower electrode 2, a lower clad layer 3, a core layer 4, an upper clad layer 5, and an upper electrode 6 stacked in this order from the substrate 1 side. The core layer 4 is subjected to polarization treatment, and has an EO effect. The optical waveguide core 7 is formed by a reactive ion etching method or the like to constitute a mach-zehnder interferometer. When an electric field is applied to one of the lower electrode 2 and the upper electrode 6 or electric fields in mutually opposite directions of the 2 upper electrodes 6 are applied, the refractive index of the core layer 4 located between these electrodes changes, and the phase difference between the two arms of the mach-zehnder interferometer changes, thereby making it possible to modulate the intensity of propagating light.

Such a mach-zehnder type optical waveguide can be manufactured by a known method described in patent document 1, for example.

The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.