Proton Sensing Color Changing Organoiron and Organic Macromolecules

Abstract

Macromolecules incorporating photoactive species have become one of the most important topics in literature for the search of new materials with tunable properties. In particular, azobenzene-containing polymers have witnessed important developments in order to build up novel, smart materials for various useful purposes. The majority of these materials were completely organic macromolecules, however in recent years, azo dyes have been merged into organometallic polymers. Our group was one of the pioneers in this field via functionalization of organoiron macromolecules with aryl and hetaryl azo moieties. The combination of azo chromophore with organometallic macromolecules can tune the properties of the obtained polymers and increase the possibility of their applications in fields such as reversible optical storage systems, electrooptic modulators, labeling, photorefractive switches and biomedicine. Herein, we are highlighting the synthesis and characterization of various classes of highly colored organo and/or organoiron polymers and illustrating their possible applications.

Design of Thermochromic Polynorbornene Bearing Spiropyran Chromophore Moieties: Synthesis, Thermal Behavior and Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Treatment

“…It is well known that polynorbornene is a rather flexible chain, arising from its low T g value [ 79 , 80 ]. This value can be manipulated via incorporation of different molecules into the side chain of the polymers [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Therefore, it is anticipated that the functionalization of norbornene monomers with the spiropyran moieties increases the T g values of their corresponding polymers.…”

“…Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene monomers has been a very successful approach to control the polymer’s molecular structure, size, and bulk properties [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. In the past, we have used Grubbs catalyst in the synthesis of various substituted polynorbornenes [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. We also developed several series of polynorbornene containing aryl- and hetaryl-azo chromophores as candidates for long-term storage information, as well as in photonic devices [ 62 ].…”

Cationic Cyclopentadienyliron Complex as a Novel and Successful Nucleating Agent on the Crystallization Behavior of the Biodegradable PHB Polymer

“…The intense electron withdrawing ability of the positively charged iron center facilitates nucleophilic substitution and addition reactions on the arene rings and allows for the production of these macromolecules under mild conditions. Furthermore, the iron complex demonstrates several advantages over other π-coordinated metallic moieties due to its chemical versatility, stability, low cost, and low toxicity [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”