Synthesis of p, p'-divinylazobenzene.

To synthesize p, p'-divinylazobenzene (DVAB). Wittig reagent was initially synthesized using P-nitrobenzyl bromide and triphenylphosphine, followed by reaction with formaldehyde to produce p-nitro styrene, which was then deoxidized by Zn/NaOH for the final product of DVAB. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and element analysis were employed to identify the structure of DVAB, and the lambda(max) as determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy occurred at 357 nm. The synthesis procedure of DVAB was therefore optimized with high yield.