Synthesis and characterization of novel polymers bearing fluorescein units: thermal and optical properties

Abstract
In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of four novel series of copolymers bearing fluorescein moieties. Two monomers: fluorescein methacrylate and dimethacrylate were prepared and were copolymerized in the presence of four different acrylic monomers bearing oligo(ethylene glycol) segments: ethylene glycol phenyl ether acrylate, ethylene glycol phenyl ether methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (Mn = 475 g/mol), and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (Mn = 480 g/mol). The obtained copolymers were fully characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Their thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, and their optical properties were studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in solution and in solid state.