Synthesis of Chromophore-Labeled PP by the Borane Approach and their Application in Probing Penetration of Oligomeric PP into PP Particles

Abstract

This paper reports a new method of the synthesis of terminal naphthalene-labeled and carbazole-labeled PP. This method involves the synthesis of a borane-terminated PP intermediate and the selective oxidation of this intermediate to form stable polymeric radicals which then react with maleic anhydride or N-vinylcarbazole producing maleic anhydride terminated PP and terminal carbazole-labeled PP, respectively. Naphthalene terminated PP was prepared by reaction of maleic anhydride terminated PP with 1-naphthylmethylamine. Infrared, 1 H NMR, UV and fluoresence measurements all proved the coupling of the chromophore groups to the PP chains. GPC results showed that no detectable cross-linking or degradation appeared during the functionalization of PP. The chromophore-labeled polymers were used as probes to study the penetration of oligomeric PP chains into labeled PP particles. The changes of fluorescence spectra showed that chromophore groups in amorphous phase were diluted upon addition of oligomeric PP.