An anion metathesis approach to amphiphilic, photoluminescent block ionomers

POLY 10

Tingji Tang, tangtingji@mail.utexas.edu1, Dan Coady, dcoady@cm.utexas.edu2, Andrew J. Boydston, aboydsto@mail.cm.utexas.edu2, Olga Dykhno1, and Christopher W. Bielawski, bielawski@cm.utexas.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A5300, Austin, TX 78712, (2) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station-A5300, Austin, TX 78712-0165
Herein, we describe a new method for the synthesis of well-defined block ionomers that is based upon anion metathesis of neutral block copolymers. The methodology allows the incorporation of different organic halide salts thus providing a pivotal approach to ionomer formation. Using this methodology, we have incorporated highly photoluminescent benzobisimidazolium salts whose rigid, dicationic nature facilitated electrostatic crosslinking. Ultimately, we obtained fluorescent, cross linked micelles in excellent overall yield and from minimal synthetic outlay. The topology of the micelles was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy which revealed spherical micelles having average diameters of 8 +/- 3 nm. The photophysical properties of the benzobisimidazolium -based block ionomer were analyzed both as free, linear polymer as well as in micellular form. Intense blue emission was observed from the shell cross linked micelles and the emission data suggested higher order aggregation in comparison with free benzobisimidazolium fluorophores.
 

Functional Nanomaterials from New Polymer Synthetic Methodologies
8:00 AM-12:30 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Grand Salon 3, Oral

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008