Naphthalimide-containing conjugated polyelectrolytes with different chain configurations

Abstract

Several donor–acceptor type conjugated polyelectrolytes containing naphthalimide are developed. Different polymer chain configurations of the backbones of polymers lead to different photophysical properties. The para-substituted polymers show extended conformations with quite low quantum yields in high polarity solvents because of twisted intramolecular charge transfer features, while the meta-substituted polymers can form helices and demonstrated significantly improved quantum yields in water and methanol, as well as achieving sensitive, ultrafast and ratiometric detection of trace methylene blue in water.