Enhanced Fluorescence Properties of Stilbene‐Containing Alternating Copolymers

Abstract

In recent years, nonconjugated, fluorophore-free organic polymers have emerged as potentially useful light-emitting materials. The fluorescence properties of a novel class of nonconjugated, tert-butyl carboxylate functionalized stilbene-containing alternating copolymers are investigated in this work. These sterically crowded, semi-rigid copolymers exhibit very strong blue fluorescence in organic solvents upon irradiation. The origin of the fluorescent band with high quantum yield is attributed to the "through space" π-π interactions between the phenyl rings from the stilbene and CO groups from the anhydride groups. To the best of our knowledge, the di-tert-butyl group-containing stilbene and maleic anhydride alternating copolymer showed one of the highest fluorescent intensities among all fluorophore-free polymers. The excellent linearity of the luminescence property of this copolymer is an important attribute for future potential quantitative applications. The fluorescence is maintained when the tert-butyl groups are removed and the resulting carboxylic acid-functionalized copolymer is dissolved in water at neutral pH, which can render these copolymers as attractive candidates for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Homogeneous nanodiscs of native membranes formed by stilbene–maleic-acid copolymers

“…This increase results from the chain stiffening caused by steric crowding in the backbone of STMA. 10,11 The chemical composition of STMA copolymers has -(-CHPh-CHPh-MA-)repeating units; SMA, -(-CH 2 -CHPh-MA-)-. Replacing -CH 2with -CHPhincreases the rigidity of the polymer.…”

Structures and Dynamics of Native-State Transmembrane Protein Targets and Bound Lipids

“…The use of methyl-substituted stilbenes in copolymerization reactions (rather than styrene) along with maleic anhydride generates STMA copolymers that possess semi-rigid backbones [ 100 , 101 , 102 ]. The unique composition, sequence distribution, and backbone rigidity of these copolymers confer broader pH utility and more homogeneous nanodisc sizes and shapes, as demonstrated with the E. coli membrane protein PagP [ 12 ].…”

Unexpected Emission of Poly[(methylenelactide)-co-(2-vinylpyridine)] from Single-chain Luminogen

“…PL of maleic anhydride (MAh)-containing copolymers have been demonstrated by several groups. 4,5,[36][37][38] The copolymers of MAh and various comonomers, to name a few, vinyl acetate, acetoxy styrene, vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, etc., exhibited remarkable intrinsic PL. You and coworkers synthesized copolymers with intrinsic PL via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT).…”