Segmented conjugated macromolecules containing silicon and boron: ADMET synthesis and luminescent properties

Abstract

Boron- and silicon-containing conjugated homo- and copolymers could be synthesized using acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) condensation of bis-styryl monomers. Both, tri-and tetra-coordinated boron monomers were successfully polymerized forming homopolymers, or random copolymers (if polymerized together with a silicon containing co-monomer). Polymer molecular weights Mn were measured at ∼6000 to 15,000 g/mol (NMR end group analysis) with molecular weight distributions Mw/Mn ∼1.8 to 2.2. The polymers absorbed at λmax ∼317 to 406 nm and emitted at λmax ∼370 to 494 nm with fluorescent quantum efficiencies ∼24 to 48%. The copolymer with tri-coordinate boron showed highly efficient fluorescence quenching in the presence of fluoride ions at ratios boron/fluoride ∼5/1, demonstrating its potential as anion sensor. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1707–1718