Blue emitting side-chain pendant 4-hydroxy-1,3-thiazoles in polystyrenes synthesized by RAFT polymerization

Blue emitting dyes bearing a luciferin analogous chromophor were attached to a polystyrene backbone. 4-Hydroxy thiazoles were functionalized with a styrene unit and polymerized using the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique. Two different chain transfer agents were investigated and a selected monomer was studied in terms of its kinetic behavior. The polymerization kinetics are presented and discussed in detail, showing a controlled polymerization behavior, resulting in well-defined copolymers with polydispersity indices below 1.3. The obtained polymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), 1H NMR, MALDI-Tof MS and UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, thin film UV-vis absorption and emission behavior was investigated.