Synthesis and characterization of a novel, reactive, yellow fluorescent organosilicon dye and its polysiloxanes

Abstract

A novel, reactive, yellow fluorescent organosilicon dye, N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide, is designed and synthesized and is used to fabricate a covalently yellow fluorescent silicone oil by polycondensation of hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane. The chemical structure and optical properties of the N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide and covalently yellow fluorescent silicone oil are characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, UV–Vis, and fluorescence spectra. The results indicate that the fluorescence quantum yields of N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide and covalently yellow fluorescent silicone oil are 2.61% and 3.5%, respectively. The λmax values of their dichloromethane solutions are 416 nm, and their λex and λem are 430 and 509 nm, respectively. Furthermore, covalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubbers are prepared using tetraethoxysilane as a cross-linker, and some of their properties are investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis show that heat resistance and tan δ of the covalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubber are improved in comparison with silicone rubbers without N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide moieties. Solvent extraction experiments indicate that the solvent resistance of the covalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubber is much better than that of noncovalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubber.