Multi‐C−C/C−N‐Coupled Light‐Emitting Aliphatic Terpolymers: N−H‐Functionalized Fluorophore Monomers and High‐Performance Applications

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2020-01, Vol.26 (2), p.502-516
• Main Authors: Mahapatra, Manas, Dutta, Arnab, Roy, Joy Sankar Deb, Das, Ujjal, Banerjee, Snehasis, Dey, Sanjit, Chattopadhyay, Pijush Kanti, Maiti, Dilip K., Singha, Nayan Ranjan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Aliphatic compounds; Atomic absorption analysis; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Atomic beam spectroscopy; bioimaging; Chemical compounds; Chemistry; copper; density functional calculations; Emission analysis; Fluorescence; Fluorophores; Light scattering; Medical imaging; Monomers; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Photoelectrons; Photon correlation spectroscopy; Polymerization; polymers; sensors; Solution polymerization; Spectral analysis; Terpolymers; Thermogravimetric analysis; Time dependence; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201903935

To circumvent costly fluorescent labeling, five nonconventional, multifunctional, intrinsically fluorescent aliphatic terpolymers (1–5) have been synthesized by C−C/C−N‐coupled, solution polymerization of two non‐emissive monomers with protrusions of fluorophore monomers generated in situ. These scalable terpolymers were suitable for sensing and high‐performance exclusion of CuII, logic function, and bioimaging. The structures of the terpolymers, in situ attachment of fluorescent monomers, aggregation‐induced enhanced emission, bioimaging ability, and super adsorption were investigated by 1H and 13C NMR, EPR, FTIR, X‐ray photoelectron, UV/Vis, and atomic absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, solid‐state fluorescence, fluorescence imaging, and fluorescence lifetime measurements, as well as by isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies. The geometries and electronic structures of the fluorophores and the absorption and emission properties of the terpolymers were examined by DFT, time‐dependent DFT, and natural transition orbital analyses. For 1, 2, and 5, the limits of detection were determined to be 1.03×10−7, 1.65×10−7, and 1.77×10−7 m, respectively, and the maximum adsorption capacities are 1575.21, 1433.70, and 1472.21 mg g−1, respectively. Extra sensory! Five biocompatible, purely aliphatic, nonconventional fluorescent terpolymers have been prepared through multi‐C−C/C−N‐coupled, N−H‐functionalized polymerization of nonfluorescent monomers in water. The terpolymers can be successfully used for the sensing and exclusion of CuII, logic gates, and Madin‐Darby canine kidney cell imaging.