Design and photonic properties of novel fluorinated copolymers bearing phthalocyanine side groups

Abstract

The design and characterization of amorphous alternating copolymers endowed with a satisfactory thermal stability are reported. These alternating poly(CTFE-alt-CEVE) copolymers are synthesized by radical copolymerization of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) with 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE), which are first modified into poly[CTFE-alt-(2-iodoethyl vinyl ether)] copolymers and then azidated in high yields. Alkynyl CF 3-containing phthalocyanines (Pcs) are then grafted via a copper-catalyzed Huisgen dipolar 1,3-addition ("grafting onto"), hence providing fluorinated copolymers with different degrees of grafting (from 10 to 72%) of Pc dangling groups. Electronic spectral (absorption, excitation, and fluorescence) and photophysical properties (fluorescence lifetimes, τ F, and quantum yields, φ F) are evaluated. The design of original poly(CTFE-alt-CEVE) alternating fluoro-copolymers containing fluoroazidophthalocyanine dangling side groups by click chemistry is described. The thermal and photophysical properties of the fluoropolymers are assessed. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.