Ultraviolet Absorption and Fluorescence Emission Spectroscopic Studies of Macrocyclic and Linear Poly(9,9-dimethyl-2-vinylfluorene). Evidence for Ground-State Chromophore Interactions

Rod-like nano-light harvester

Imitating the natural "energy cascade" architecture, we present a single-molecular rod-like nano-light harvester (NLH) based on a cylindrical polymer brush. Block copolymer side chains carrying (9,9-diethylfluoren-2-yl)methyl methacrylate units as light absorbing antennae (energy donors) are tethered to a linear polymer backbone containing 9-anthracenemethyl methacrylate units as emitting groups (energy acceptors). These NLHs exhibit very efficient energy absorption and transfer. Moreover, we manipulate the energy transfer by tuning the donor-acceptor distance.

Well-defined novel fluorene-containing polymers: synthesis, fluorescent properties, and micellar nanoparticles

We report the synthesis of a new monomer, 9,9-diethylfluoren-2-yl methyl methacrylate (FMMA) and its controlled reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) homopolymerization to give PFMMA with narrow polydispersity indices (PDIs). The corresponding copolymerization with 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) also gave well-defined block and random copolymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow PDIs. Their thermal behavior, UV-Vis absorption, and photoluminescent properties were studied. The PDMAEMA-b-PFMMA amphiphilic block copolymers showed self-assembly into aqueous spherical micellar nanoparticles with uniform size. The PFMMA core showed photoluminescence when carrying dichloromethane "guest" molecules and its emission was shown to be quenched after the release of the guest.