The temperature dependence of side-chain chromophore orientation and excimer formation
in diastereomeric poly[N
5-(R and S)-1-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl-l-glutamines] (1 and 2) was examined in DMAc
using circular dichroic (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. In comparison with 1, 2 afforded CD spectra
suggesting a better controlled pyrene chromophore orientation. It, however, gave a stronger excimer
fluorescence. Assuming that a major portion of excimers are formed in the portions of the polymer where
the side chains are disordered, the ratios of ordered side chains to disordered side chains, i.e., the
equilibrium constants between the two side-chain structures, were evaluated from fluorescence decay
analysis. The equilibrium constants were found to be consistently smaller for 2 than for 1 in the
temperature range examined. The stronger excimer emission observed with 2 is thus suggested due to
the larger content of disordered side chains in 2 despite the better controlled chromophore orientation in
its ordered side chains. This is consistent with the lower activation energy of excimer formation estimated
for 2. The molar ellipticities of the ordered and disordered side chains were evaluated from the observed
CD and the equilibrium constants. The possible ordered side-chain structures of 1 and 2 were explored
by molecular mechanics calculations as well as theoretical CD calculations based on the low-energy
conformations obtained thereby.
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