Fluorescence properties of carbazolyl-containing amphiphilic copolymers

Amphiphilic random copolymers of 2-(9-carbazolyl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate, 2-(9-carbazolyl)ethyl methacrylate or 2-(9-carbazolyl)ethyl acrylate with methacrylic acid were synthesized and their fluorescence properties in aqueous solution were examined. The fluorescence spectra of the copolymers showed monomeric emission. The fluorescence intensity decreased with increase of the content of carbazolyl groups in the copolymers, indicating that some excited-state quenching occurs in these systems. The fluorescence intensity of the copolymers also changed with the change of pH of the solutions. The character of these changes was dependent on the content of carbazole chromophores in the copolymer. Solubilization of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid ammonium salt and perylene by the copolymers synthesized has been studied. The energy transfer to hydrophobically-bound perylene was facilitated for carbazolylalkylmethacrylate copolymers when compared to that observed for carbazolylalkylacrylate copolymers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.