This review focuses on side-chain functionalized polymers derived from direct (co)polymerization of fluorescent dyes. This overview about polymerizable dyes includes 1,8-naphthalimides, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, azo-dyes, oxadiazoles, diverse aromatic dyes as well as selected other dyes that cannot be classified within these groups. The discussed dyes have been functionalized with a polymerizable unit in order to apply straight-forward polymerization procedures. Therefore, the center of attention is set to the optical properties of the polymerizable dyes and the applicable polymerization techniques. Furthermore, the various applications (i.e., in biomedicine and pharmacy, as thermo-responsive materials and energy transfer materials, for dispersion of carbon nanotubes and others) of each polymer are discussed.

In order to form suitable systems designed for resonance energy transfer, a series of monodisperse methacrylate‐based monomers containing rigid π‐conjugated oligo(phenylene ethynylenes) with different sizes of the conjugated systems (M1–M3), and therefore different optoelectronic properties, were synthesized and subsequently polymerized using the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization technique (P1–P3). In addition, these oligomers were also copolymerized with methyl methacrylate. The obtained polymers were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and analytical ultracentrifugation. The photophysical properties of the polymers were studied by UV–vis absorption and emission spectroscopy in diluted solutions as well as in thin films and compared to the photophysics of the corresponding monomers. Thereby, changes going from monomeric to polymeric systems could be detected in fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes pointing to energy trapping, e.g., energy transfer. Donor–acceptor copolymers containing different numbers of monomeric units within the side chain exhibit differences in the emission spectra, indicating that energy trapping in polymers is very sensitive to structural properties such as the chain length. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy as well as time‐resolved lifetime studies indicate intrapolymer and interpolymer energy transfer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012

A spectroscopic characterization of polymers containing rigid π-conjugated oligo(phenyleneethynylene) chromophores as well as oligo(phenyleneethynylene) and methyl methacrylate is presented. The polymers exhibit molar masses of up to 15,000 g mol(-1) and a degree of polymerization between 22 and 80. Emission measurements of the monomeric and polymeric species show that radiative as well as nonradiative rates are influenced by the degree of polymerization due to intramolecular interactions of chromophores pendant to the polymer backbone. Time-resolved emission anisotropy measurements suggest that energy migrates within the polymers. Steady-state emission anisotropy measurements also point to energy migration. Additionally, two oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s with different sizes of the conjugated system are copolymerized in order to enable energy trapping due to energy transfer. The shortened energy-donor fluorescence lifetime within the donor-acceptor copolymers suggest energy transfer. Depending on the degree of polymerization, dispersion of the donor fluorescence lifetime is observed.

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A dye-based polymeric antenna system for energy transfer towards a photoactive Os(ii) metal complex is described.