Construction of Self‐Reporting Biodegradable CO2‐Based Polycarbonates for the Visualization of Thermoresponsive Behavior with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Technology†. Issue 11 (6th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Molin; Wang, Enhao; Cao, Han; Liu, Shunjie; Wang, Xianhong; Wang, Fosong
• Is Part Of: Chinese journal of chemistry. Volume 39:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 3037
• Page End: 3043
• Publication Date: 2021-09-06
• Subjects: Ring‐opening polymerization -- Fluorescence -- Thermoresponsive polymers -- Phase transitions -- Visualization -- CO2 copolymerization; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.202100372
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1001-604X

Abstract

Main observation and conclusion: Thermoresponsive polymers with simultaneous biodegradability and signal "self‐reporting" outputs that meet for advanced applications are hard to obtain. To address this issue, we developed fluorescence signal "self‐reporting" biodegradable thermoresponsive polycarbonates through the immortal copolymerization of CO2 and oligoethylene glycol monomethyl ether‐functionalized epoxides in the presence of hydroxyl‐modified tetraphenylethylene (TPE‐OH). TPE‐OH was used as chain transfer agent to afford well‐defined polycarbonates with controlled molecular weight (6000—17000 g·mol –1 ) and aggregation‐induced emission characteristics. Through temperature‐dependent fluorescence intensity study, low critical solution transition of TPE‐labeled polycarbonates were determined and the fine details of thermal‐induced phase transition process were monitored. Further research indicated that temperature‐controlled aggregation and dissociation of TPE moieties are the main reason for fluorescence intensity variations. We anticipate that this work could offer a method to visualize the thermal transition process of thermoresponsive polycarbonates and broaden their application fields as smart materials. Abstract : Thermoresponsive polymers with simultaneous biodegradability and signal "self‐reporting" outputs that meet for advanced applications are hard to obtain. In this work, we developed fluorescence signal "self‐reporting" biodegradable thermoresponsive polycarbonates through the copolymerization of CO2 and OEG‐functionalized epoxides in the presence of hydroxyl‐modified tetraphenylethylene (TPE‐OH). The self‐assembly of TPE‐labeled polymer in aqueous solution resulted in fluorescence enhancement owing to the restriction of intramolecular motion mechanism of TPE. Further research indicated that temperature‐controlled aggregation and dissociation of TPE moieties are the main reason for fluorescence intensity variations.