Clickable Polymerization‐Induced Emission Luminogens Toward Color‐Tunable Modification of Non‐Traditional Intrinsic Luminescent Polymers

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 45; no. 11; pp. e2400045 - n/a
• Main Authors: Sun, Xiao‐Li, Xue, Hong, Gu, Xi‐Yao, Li, De‐Shan, Xiao, Hang, Wan, Wen‐Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; aggregation‐induced emission; Alkynes; Chain transfer; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; click chemistry; Color; Cycloaddition; Emission; Emissions; Energy transfer; luminescent polymer; non‐traditional intrinsic luminescence; Polymerization; polymerization‐induced emission; Polymers
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400045

Non‐traditional intrinsic luminescent (NTIL) polymer is an emerging field, and its color‐tunable modification is highly desirable but still rarely investigated. Here, a click chemistry approach for the color‐tunable modifications of NTIL polymers by introducing clickable polymerization‐induced emission luminogen (PIEgen), is demonstrated. Through Cu‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry, a series of PIEgens is successful prepared, which is further polymerized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Interestingly, after clickable modification, these monomers are nonemissive in both solution and aggregation states; while, the corresponding polymers exhibit intriguing aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics, confirming their PIEgen characteristics. By varying alkynyl substitutions, color‐tunable NTIL polymers are achieved with emission wavelength varying from 448 to 498 nm, revealing a series of PIEgens and verifying the importance of modification of NTIL polymers. Further luminescence energy transfer application is carried out as well. This work therefore designs a series of clickable PIEgens and opens a new avenue for the modification of NTIL polymers via click chemistry, which may cause inspirations to the research fields including luminescent polymer, NTIL, click chemistry, AIE and modification. A series of trityl triazole‐containing monomers and polymers with different substitutions is successfully prepared through click chemistry and RAFT polymerization, which reveal a series of novel trityl triazole‐containing PIEgens and enable the color‐tunable modification of NTIL polymers with interesting AIE characteristics.