Green and Sustainable Chemistry
Vol.08 No.03(2018), Article ID:86422,28 pages
10.4236/gsc.2018.83017

Functional Organo-Nano Particles by RAFT Copolymerisation

Heinz Langhals1*, Dominik Zgela1, Arthur Haffner1, Charlotte Koschnick1, Kerstin Gottschling1, Christian Paulik2

1Department of Chemistry, LMU University of Munich, Munich, Germany

2Institute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria

Copyright © 2018 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: March 26, 2018; Accepted: July 30, 2018; Published: August 2, 2018

ABSTRACT

A significant impact of this work on the use of polymers is expected because the developed organo-nano particles (ONP) mixed into standard polymers will make them unique and traceable. The doping of polymers with non migrating ONP was demonstrated and applications for the recycling of plastics were discussed. Thus, perylene derivatives were linked to polymerisable vinyl groups and copolymerized under RAFT conditions (Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer) with styrene and methylmethacrylate, respectively, to obtain fluorescent ONP with sizes of 40 nm or even less and narrow distributions of molecular weight in most cases with polydispersities PD of 1.1 and lower.

Keywords:

Organic Nano Particles (ONP), Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT), Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Polymers, Recycling

1. Introduction

Nano technology is very promising because of many novel possibilities and is now concentrated to inorganic materials such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, alumina and silica. However, the persistency of the majority of such materials is the subject of controversy discussion concerning hazards to human health and environment [1] [2] [3] [4] , respectively. A sufficient broad experimental basis for a realistic estimation is still lacking. On the other hand, organic materials are generally long-term degradable where organic nano particles (ONP) would be an attractive alternative for applications in mass products [5] . Moreover, a comparably low lifetime in the environment can be expected because of their large surface for chemical and biological attack and degradation; thus, ONP can be estimated as “green materials”. The possibility of the application of ONP found only little attention although the introduction of functionalities such as fluorescent chromophores in organic materials is well-established by the methods of preparative organic chemistry. We prepared fluorescent organo-nano particles in preceding work by polymer analogous reaction [6] with reactive chromophores. A free radical-induced copolymerisation of polymerisable chromophores with various monomers was successful. Nano dimensions were obtained by the application of high concentrations of initiators in rapid reactions [7] where high stationary concentrations of growing chains cause efficient terminations of radicals resulting in short chains and nano dimensions of the polymers. Basically, fluorescent organo-nano particles (ONP) could be prepared by this method, however, with comparably broad distribution of molecular weight and size, respectively. Moreover, the controlling of the reaction was difficult and scaling-up problematic because of the Trommsdorff [8] [9] [10] effect. An easier processing radical reaction leading to a more uniform distribution of size would bring about an appreciable progress.

2. Experimental

2.1. Spectroscopy

IR spectroscopy: Perkin Elmer BX II FT-IR System with ATR unit. NMR spectra: Varian Vnmrs 600. UV/Vis spectroscopy: Varian Cary 5000. Fluorescence spectra: Varian Cary Eclipse, detector Hamamatsu R3896; fluorescence lifetimes: PicoQuant FluoTime 300; PicoQuant PicoHarp 300 (PC-405 laser; 403 nm). Mass spectra: Finnigan MAT 95, Thermo Finnigan LTQ FT/IonMax, Finnigan JMS-700, Bruker Daltonics Autoflex II (Maldi). Elemental analyses: Elementar vario EL cube. Dynamic light scattering (DLS): Malvern Nano ZS at 633 nm. GPC: Viscotek GPCmax VE-2001. Thermogravimetry: Netzsch STA 440 C TG/DSC. Electron microscopy: Jeol JSM-6500F with EDX detector.

2.2. Chemicals

2,11-Bis(1-hexylheptyl)-5-phenylimidazolo[4’,5’:3,4]anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone [11] : N,N’-Bis(1-hexylheptyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic-3,4:9,10-bisimide [12] (2.00 g, 2.65 mmol) and freshly prepared fine sodiumamide (2.00 g, 51.3 mmol) were disperged in benzonitrile (250 mL) heated at 165˚C (colour change to blue) for 3 h, allowed to cool, treated with 2 m aqueous HCl (150 mL), extracted with chloroform (150 mL), evaporated in medium vacuum, dissolved in chloroform, filtrated and purified by column separation (silica gel, chloroform/iso-hexane 3:1) and precipitated with methanol. Yield 1.62 g (70.1%) dark violet metallic shiny solid, m.p. >250˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform): 0.86. 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.78 - 0.89 (m, 12 H, 4 × CH3), 1.15 - 1.44 (m, 32 H, 16 × CH2), 1.82 - 1.98 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 2.20 - 2.38 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 5.15 - 5.32 (m, 2 H, α-CH), 7.66 - 7.71 (m, 3 H, 3 × CHaryl), 8.36 (s br., 2 H, 2 × CHaryl), 8.59 - 8.85 (m, 6 H, 6 × CHpery), 10.79 (d, 3JH,H = 7.4 Hz, 1 H; CHpery), 11.55 ppm (s, 1 H, N-H). MS (DEI+/70 eV): m/z (%) = 871.5 (50) [MH+], 870.5 (79) [M+], 689.3 (19) [M+ − C44H40O4N4], 506.1 (100) [M+ − C31H14O4N4], 390.1 (23) [M+ − C24H10O4N2]. HRMS (C57H66N4O4): Calcd. m/z: 870.5084, found m/z: 870.5091, Δ = 0.0007 mmu.

Partial hydrolysis of 2-11-(1-hexylheptyl)-5-phenylimidazolo[4’,5’:3,4]anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone [11] : 2,11-Bis(1-hexylheptyl)-5-phenylimidazolo[4’,5’:3,4]an­thra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone (1.49 g, 1.70 mmol) was disperged in tert-butylalcohol (175 mL), heated at 110˚C for 1 h (complete dissolution), treated with solid KOH (85%, 2.80 g, 50.0 mmol) refluxed for 4.5 h (bath 110˚C), allowed to cool, quenched by means of the addition of 2 m aqueous HCl (100 mL), collected by vacuum filtration, dried at 110˚C in air and purified by column separation (silica gel, chloroform/methanol 50:1. Yield 217 mg (19%) dark violet metallic shiny solid, m.p. >250˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform/methanol 50:1): 0.50. 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.85 (t, 3JH,H = 6.9 Hz, 6 H, 2 × CH3), 1.19 - 1.48 (m, 16 H, 8 × CH2), 1.94 - 2.05 (m, 2 H, 2 × β-CH), 2.27 - 2.36 (m, 2 H, 2 × β-CH), 5.15 - 5.31 (m, 1 H, α-CH2), 7.63 - 7.75 (m, 3 H, 3 × CHaryl), 8.20 (s br., 2 H, 2 × CHaryl), 8.36 - 8.42 (s, 3 H, 3 × CHpery), 8.47 (d, 3JH,H = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, CHpery), 8.52 - 8.62 (m, 3JH,H = 7.4 Hz, 1 H, CHpery), 10.41 (d, 3JH,H = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, CHpery), 11.33 ppm (s, 1 H, NH). MS (DEI+/70 eV): m/z (%) = 690.3 (26) [MH+], 689.3 (56) [M+], 507.1 (100) [M+ − C31H15O4N4]. HRMS (C44H39N3O5): Calcd. m/z: 689.2890, found m/z: 689.2882, Δ = 0.0008 mmu.

2-(1-Hexylheptyl)-11-(4-vinylphenyl)-5-phenylimidazolo[4’,5’:3,4]anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone (4a) and 11-(1-hexylheptyl)-2-(4-vinylphenyl)-5-phenylimidazolo[4’,5’:3,4]anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone (4b) [7] : The mixture of isomers of partially hydrolysed 2,11-(1-hexylheptyl)-5-phenylimidazolo [4’,5’:3,4]anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone [11] (100 mg, 0.15 mmol), zinc acetate (1 mg) and melt imidazole (1.5 g) were treated with 4-aminostyrene (21 mg, 0.174 mmol), stirred with reflux (bath 120˚C) for 3 h (dark violet mixture), allowed to cool, treated with 2 m aqueous HCl, allowed to settle for 1 h, collected by vacuum filtration, dried for 16 h, dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform, purified by column separation (neutral alumina, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1), dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform and precipitated with methanol. Yield 69 mg (60 %) dark violet solid, m.p. 306˚C. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3): 0.52. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1): 0.63. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 3412 (w), 3094 (w), 2922 (m), 2854 (m), 1705 (s), 1688 (s), 1657 (s), 1640 (s), 1622 (s), 1590 (s), 1532 (m), 1510 (m), 1485 (w), 1470 (w), 1455 (w), 1430 (w), 1411 (w), 1374 (m), 1343 (s), 1303 (m), 1246 (s), 1191 (m), 1138 (w), 1120 (w), 1053 (w), 1016 (w), 985 (w), 953 (w), 905 (w), 871 (w) 841 (m), 810 (s), 776 (w), 748 (m), 684 cm-1 (s). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.84 (t, 3JH,H = 6.4 Hz, 12 H, 4 × CH3), 1.21 - 1.47 (m, 24 H, 12 × CH2), 1.93 - 2.05 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 2.23 - 2.34 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 5.15 - 5.26 (m, 2 H, 2 × α-CH), 5.36 (d, 3JH,H = 11.1 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 5.39 (d, 3JH,H = 11.1 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 5.85 (d, 3JH,H = 17.8 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 5.88 (d, 3JH,H = 17.8 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 6.83 (dd, 3JH,H = 17.7 Hz, 3JH,H = 11.1 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 6.85 (dd, 3JH,H = 17.7 Hz, 3JH,H = 11.4 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 7.36 (d, 3JH,H = 8.2 Hz, 2 H, 2 × CHpery), 7.43 (d, 3JH,H = 8.2 Hz, 2 H, 2 × CHpery), 7.60 (d, 3JH,H = 8.2 Hz, 2 H, 2 × CHpery), 7.62 - 7.70 (m, 8 H, 8 × CHarom), 8.01 (d, 3JH,H = 5.8 Hz, 2 H, 2 × CHpery), 8.11 - 8.65 (m, 12 H, 12 × CHarom), 10.27 (s, 1 H; CHpery), 10.40 (s, 1 H; CHpery), 11.10 ppm (s, 1 H, N-H), 11.27 ppm (s, 1 H, N-H). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 150 MHz): δ = 163.67, 138.66, 138.19, 136.44, 134.70, 132.44, 132.01, 129.58, 129.02, 127.99, 127.29, 115.07, 32.59, 31.99, 29.48, 29.47, 29.46, 27.31, 22.81, 22.79, 14.25, 14.23 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 459 (12600), 466 (14600), 508 (15600), 544 (45000), 589 nm (85800). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 544 nm): λmax (Irel): 601 (1.0), 654 (0.48), 714 nm (0.12). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 544 nm, E544 nm/1 cm = 0.0093, reference: S-13, registry number RN 110590-84-6, with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.89. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 790.4 (10) [M+], 608.1 (21) [M+ − C39H20O4N4], 461.1 (12) [M+ − C35H13N2], 182.2 (34) [M+ − C13H26], 69.1 (100). HRMS (C52H46N4O4): Calcd. m/z: 790.3519, found m/z: 790.3516, Δ = 0.0003 mmu. C52H46N4O4 (790.4): Calcd. C 78.96, H 5.86, N 7.08; found C 78.63, H 6.03, N 6.98.

2,10-Bis(1-hexylheptyl)-6-(4-vinylphenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3’,4’:4,5]pyreno[2,1,10-def:7,8,9-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,5,7,9,11(2H,6H,10H)-hexone (6) [7] : N,N´-Bis(1-hexylheptyl)benzo[ghi]perylene-2,3,8,9,11,12-hexacarboxylic-2,3,8,9-bis(dicarboximide)-11,12-anhydride [17] (0.40 g, 0.47 mmol), zinc acetate (5 mg) and melt imidazole (7.0 g) were treated with 4-aminostyrene (70 mg, 0.59 mmol), stirred under reflux (bath 120˚C) for 3 h (ochre mixture), allowed to cool, treated with 2 m aqueous HCl, allowed to settle for 1 h, collected by vacuum filtration (ochre solid), dried for 16 h, dissolved in the minmal amount of chloroform, purified by column separation (neutral alumina, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1) dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform and precipitated with methanol. Yield 221 mg (49%) yellowish orange solid, m.p. >300˚C. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3): 0.82. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1): 0.91. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 3074 (w), 2953 (m) 2924 (m), 2855 (m), 1772 (w), 1707 (s), 1662 (s), 1626 (w), 1595 (m), 1513 (m), 1457 (m), 1413 (m), 1391 (m), 1363 (s), 1315 (s), 1292 (m), 1275 (m), 1241 (m), 1202 (w), 1177 (w), 1156 (w), 1123 (w), 1102 (w), 1029 (w), 1017 (w), 987 (w) 961 (w), 944 (m), 908 (w), 880 (m), 845 (m), 811 (m) 797 (w), 779 (w), 764 (m), 747 (w), 724 (w), 698 (w), 659 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.84 (t, 3JH,H = 6.8 Hz, 12 H, 4 × CH3), 1.23 - 1.55 (m, 32 H, 16 × CH2), 1.95 - 2.05 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 2.30 - 2.41 (m, 4 H, 2 ×β-CH2), 5.25 - 5.35 (m, 2 H, NCH), 5.40 (d, 3JH,H = 11.0 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 5.91 (d, 3JH,H = 17.7 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 6.87 (dd, 3JH,H = 17.6 Hz, 3JH,H = 10.9 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 7.71 (d, 3JH,H = 7.9 Hz, 2 H, CHarom), 7.74 (d, 3JH,H = 8.0 Hz, 2 H, CHarom), 9.06 (s, 4 H, 4 × CHpery), 10.21 ppm (s, 2 H, CHpery). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 150 MHz): δ = 166.81, 137.79, 136.27, 132.63, 130.73, 127.40, 127.16, 126.96, 126.72, 124.43, 123.68, 122.75, 115.27, 55.54, 32.57, 31.97, 29.46, 27.27, 22.79, 14.23 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 379 (32300), 410 (20400), 436 (38100), 467 nm (56800). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 436 nm): λmax (Irel): 477 (1.0), 511 nm (0.84). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 436 nm, E436 nm/1 cm = 0.0188, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.03. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 950.5 (10) [MH+], 586.1 (32) [M+ − C36H16O6N3], 69.1 (100). HRMS (C62H68N3O6): Calcd. m/z: 950.5108, found m/z: 950.5112, Δ = 0.0004 mmu. C62H67N3O6 (949.5): Calcd. C 78.37, H 7.11, N 4.42; found C 78.46, H 7.23, N 4.35.

2-(1-Nonyldecyl)-11-(4-vinylphenyl)benzo[13,14]pentapheno[3,4,5-def:10,9,8-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,10,12(2H,11H)-tetraone (5): 11-(1-Nonyldecyl)-1H-benzo[13,14]isochromeno[6’,5’,4’:8,9,10]pentapheno[3,4,5-def]isoquinoline-1,3,10,12(11H)-tetraon [18] (48 mg, 0.062 mmol), zinc acetate (1 mg) and melt imidazole (800 mg) were treated with 4-aminostyene (9.6 mg, 0.081 mmol), stirred under reflux (bath 120˚C) for 3 h (dark blue mixture), allowed to cool, treated with 2 m aqueous HCl, allowed to settle for 1 h, dried for 16 h, dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform, purified by column separation (neutral alumina, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1), dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform and precipitated with methanol. Yield 19 mg (35%) dark blue solid, m.p. > 250˚C. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3): 0.32. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1): 0.56. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 2919 (s), 2850 (m), 1692 (s), 1650 (s), 1584 (s), 1504 (w), 1452 (w), 1378 (w), 1354 (s), 1327 (w), 1305 (w), 1315 (s), 1252 (w), 1209 (w), 1184 (w), 1143 (w), 1016 (w), 913 (w), 840 (w), 807 (s), 780 (w), 748 (m), 722 (w) 695 (m), 679 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.80 - 0.92 (m, 6 H, 2 × CH3), 1.15 - 1.40 (m, 28 H, 14 × CH2), 1.84 - 1.93 (m, 2 H, 1 × β-CH2), 2.24 - 2.32 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 5.14.25 (m, 1 H, NCH), 5.35 (d, 3JH,H = 10.8 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 5.84 (d, 3JH,H = 17.3 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 6.82 (dd, 3JH,H = 17.5 Hz, 3JH,H = 10.9 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 7.34 (d, 3JH,H = 8.2 Hz, 2 H, CHarom), 7.61 (d, 3JH,H = 8.9 Hz, 2 H, CHarom), 8.47 - 8.76 ppm (m, 12 H, 12 × CHTerry). UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (Erel) = 560 (0.18), 600 (0.52), 656 nm (1.00). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 601 nm): λmax (Irel): 671 (1.00), 735 nm (0.46). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 600 nm, E600nm/1cm = 0.0100, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.45. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 883.4 (19) [MH+], 616.1 (100) [M+ − C42H20O4N2], 156.2 (60) [M+ − C10H22N1]. HRMS (C61H59N2O4): Calcd. m/z: 883.4475, found m/z: 883.4497, Δ = 0.0022 mmu.

11-(1-Hexylheptyl)-7-(4-vinylphenyl)benzo[8,9]pyrrolo[3’,4’:4,5]pyreno[2,1,10-def]isoquinoline-6,8,10,12(7H,11H)-tetrone (7): N-(1-Hexylheptyl) benzo[ghi]perylene-3,4:6,7-tetracarboxylic-3,4-dicarboximide-6,7-anhydride [22] (140 mg, 0.23 mmol), zinc acetate (1.0 mg) and melt imidazole (1.5 g) were treated with 4-aminostyrene (37 mg, 0.31 mmol), stirred under reflux (bath 120˚C) for 3 h (orange mixture), allowed to cool, treated with 2 m aqueous HCl, allowed to settle for 1 h, dried for 16 h, dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform and purified by column separation (neutral alumina, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1), dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform and precipitated with methanol. Yield 67 mg (48%) yellowish orange solid, m.p. 248˚C. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3): 0.68. Rf (silica gel, CHCl3/EtOH 100:1): 0.88. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 2924 (m), 2855 (m), 1766 (w), 1713 (s), 1659 (s), 1623 (w), 1604 (m), 1581 (w), 1513 (m), 1456 (w), 1422 (w), 1370 (s), 1323 (s), 1290 (m), 1245 (m), 1223 (w), 1204 (w), 1177 (w), 1159 (m), 1120 (m), 1094 (m), 991 (w), 940 (w), 886 (w), 838 (s), 811 (s), 765 (m), 751 (m), 725 (w), 664 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.85 (t, 3JH,H = 7.1 Hz, 6 H, 2 × CH3), 1.22 - 1.52 (m, 16 H, 8 × CH2), 1.97 - 2.07 (m, 2 H, 1 × β-CH2), 2.32 - 2.42 (m, 4 H, 2 × β-CH2), 5.27 - 5.34 (m, 1 H, NCH), 5.41 (d, 3JH,H = 11.1 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 5.91 (d, 3JH,H = 17.7 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 6.87 (dd, 3JH,H = 17.6 Hz, 3JH,H = 10.9 Hz, 1 H, CHolef), 7.70 (s, 3 H, CHarom), 8.13 (d, 3JH,H = 7.6 Hz, 1 H, CHarom), 8.18 (d, 3JH,H = 8.8 Hz, 1 H, CHarom), 8.30 (d, 3JH,H = 7.6 Hz, 1 H, CHarom), 8.86 - 8.97 (m, 3 H, 3 × CHarom), 9.08 (d, 3JH,H = 8.9 Hz, 1 H, CHarom), 9.97 ppm (s, 1 H, CHarom). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 150 MHz): δ = 167.83, 136.27, 132.22, 131.92, 131.09, 130.02, 128.59, 128.54, 127.65, 127.15, 126.73, 126.14, 125.43, 124.23, 123.97, 123.85, 123.09, 122.34, 121.99, 121.83, 115.23, 110.17, 32.02, 29.52, 27.35, 22.82, 14.25 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 263 (46900), 353 (26900), 368 (46600), 416 (19200), 439 (38100), 480 nm (7000). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 353 nm): λmax (Irel): 503 nm (1.0). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 353 nm, E353nm/1cm = 0.0351, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.07. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 699.3 (2) [MH+], 516.1 (19) [M+ − C34H16O4N2], 343.1 (5) [M+ − C24H9O2N1], 182.2 (39) [M+ − C13H26], 69.1 (100). HRMS (C47H43N2O4): Calcd. m/z: 699.3223, found m/z: 699.3224, Δ = 0.0001 mmu. C47H42N2O4 (698.3): Calcd. C 80.78, H 6.06, N 4.01; found C 80.56, H 6.16, N 4.02.

N-(1-Hexylheptyl)-N´-(3-hydroxypropyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylicbisimide: 9-(1-Hydroxypropyl)-2-benzopyrano[6’,5’,4’:10,5,6]anthra[2,1,9-def] isoquinoline-1,3,8,10-tetraone (2.90 g, 6.45 mmol) and imidazole (8.0 g) were heated at 140˚C, treated with 1-hexylheptylamine (2.57 g, 12.9 mmol), further heated for 2 h, allowed to cool, still warm treated with 2 m aqueous HCl, allowed to cool, collected by vacuum filtration, dried at 110˚C for 16 h, purified by column separation (silica gel, chloroform/ethanol 30:1), dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform and precipitated with methanol. Yield 2.37 g (58 %) red solid, m.p. 308˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform/ethanol 20:1): 0.48. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 3480 (w), 2953 (w), 2923 (m), 2855 (m), 1690 (s), 1642 (s), 1593 (s), 1577 (m), 1506 (w), 1479 (w), 1466 (w), 1456 (w), 1439 (m), 1404 (m), 1375 (w), 1353 (s), 1336 (s), 1268 (m), 1246 (s), 1218 (m), 1196 (m), 1179 (m), 1166 (m), 1126 (m), 1107 (w), 1097 (w), 1079 (m), 1054 (w), 1037 (w), 983 (m), 967 (m), 936 (w), 916 (w), 891 (w), 864 (m), 846 (m), 822 (w), 809 (s), 796 (m), 764 (w), 759 (w), 747 (s), 727 (m), 696 (w), 665 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz,): δ = 0.83 (t, 3J H,H = 6.9 Hz, 6 H, 2 ´ CH3), 1.19 - 1.40 (m, 16 H, 8 ´ CH2), 1.85 - 1.93 (m, 2 H, β-CH2), 2.03 (q, 3J H,H = 5.8 Hz, 2 H, CH2), 2.20 - 2.29 (m, 2 H, β-CH2), 3.02 (t, 3JH,H = 6.8 Hz, 1 H, OH), 3.64 (dd, 3J H,H = 11.6 Hz, 3J H,H = 6.0 Hz, 2 H, CH2-O), 4.36 (t, 3J H,H = 6.2 Hz, 2 H, CH2-N), 5.14 - 5.22 (m, 1 H, α-CH), 8.46 - 8.66 ppm (m, 8 H, 8 ´ CHpery). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 150 MHz,): δ = 164.07, 135.03, 134.12, 131.72, 129.50, 126.44, 126.30, 123.33, 123.01, 122.77, 59.18, 55.03, 37.22, 32.52, 31.92, 31.15, 29.38, 27.12, 22.74, 14.20 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (Erel) = 461 (0.22), 491 (0.60), 527 nm (1.0). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm): λmax (Irel): 535 (1.0), 579 (0.50), 628 nm (0.12). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm, E490nm/1cm = 0.0100, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.97. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 631.3 (44) [MH+], 630.3 (90) [M+], 448.1 (100) [M+ − C27H16O5N2], 391.1 (46) [M+ − C24H11O4N2]. HRMS (C40H42N2O5): Calcd. m/z: 630.3094, found m/z: 630.3092, Δ = 0.0002 mmu. C40H42N2O5 (630.3): Calcd. C 76.17, H 6.71, N 4.44; found C 75.84, H 6.60, N 4.43.

N-(1-Hexylheptyl)-N´-(3-methacryloyloxypropyloxy)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxbisimide (8): Toluene (45 mL) and N-(1-hexylheptyl)-N´-(3-hydroxypropyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxbisimide (850 mg, 1.36 mmol) were stirred under argon atmosphere, treated with triethylamine (680 mg, 7.90 mmol) and methacroylchloride (700 mg, 7.90 mmol), stirred at 20˚C for 16 h, evaporated in vacuo, purified by column separation (silica gel, chloroform/acetone 100:1), dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform, precipitated with methanol, collected by vacuum filtration and dried at 110˚C for 16 h. Yield 540 mg (57 %) red solid, m.p. 218˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform/acetone 100:1): 0.54. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 2956 (w), 2925 (w), 2856 (w), 1695 (s), 1658 (s), 1646 (s), 1594 (m), 1578 (m), 1506 (w), 1482 (w), 1454 (w), 1439 (m), 1404 (m), 1378 (w), 1354 (m), 1340 (s), 1296 (m), 1252 (m), 1216 (w), 1173 (m), 1126 (w), 1109 (w), 1070 (w), 1034 (w), 1012 (w), 959 (w), 942 (w), 892 (w), 852 (w), 810 (s), 796 (w), 769 (w), 745 (s), 726 (w), 696 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.82 (t, 3J H,H = 7.0 Hz, 6 H, 2 ´ CH3), 1.18 - 1.38 (m, 16 H, 8 ´ CH2), 1.83 - 1.91 (m, 2 H, β-CH2), 1.94 (s, 3 H, CH3), 2.16 - 2.29 (m, 4 H, β-CH2, 1 ´ CH2), 4.30 (t, 3J H,H = 6.2 Hz, 2 H, CH2-O), 4.37 (t, 3J H,H = 7.2 Hz, 2 H, CH2-N), 5.16 - 5.21 (m, 1 H, α-CH), 5.52 (s, 1 H, CH2 = C), 6.12 (s, 1 H, CH2 = C), 8.60 - 8.72 ppm (m, 8 H, 8 ´ CHpery). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 150 MHz): δ = 167.51, 163.57, 136.43, 135.07, 131.71, 129.72, 129.63, 126.71, 126.57, 125.65, 123.37, 123.22, 123.17, 62.71, 54.97, 37.93, 32.53, 31.91, 29.86, 29.36, 27.59, 27.08, 22.73, 18.45, 14.20 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 459 (14900), 490 (44600), 527 nm (76400). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm): λmax (Irel): 535 (1.0), 579 (0.50), 627 nm (0.12). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm, E490nm/1cm = 0.0835, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 1.00. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 699.3 (49) [MH+], 698.3 (96) [M+], 517.1 (100) [M+ − C31H21O6N2], 391.1 (100) [M+ − C24H11N2O4]. HRMS (C44H46N2O6): Calcd. m/z: 698.3356, found m/z: 698.3343, Δ = 0.0013 mmu. C44H46N2O6 (698.3): Calcd. C 75.62, H 6.63, N 4.01; found C 75.06, H 6.64, N 3.93.

N-(1-Hexylheptyl)-N´-(2,3-bis-methacroyloxypropyloxy)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxbisimide (9): Chloroform (12 mL) and N-(1-hexylheptyl)-N´-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxbisimide [23] (290 mg, 0.45 mmol) were stirred under argon atmosphere, treated with triethylamine (450 mg, 4.49 mmol) and methacroylchloride (510 mg, 4.49 mmol), stirred at 40˚C for 4 d, evaporated in vacuo, purified by column separation (alumina, chloroform/ethanol 100:1), precipitated from a concentrated solution in chloroform with methanol and dried at 80˚C for 16 h. Yield 244 mg (69 %) red solid, m.p. 122˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform/ethanol 20:1): 0.89. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 2955 (w), 2925 (m), 2856 (w), 1695 (s), 1655 (s), 1593 (s), 1578 (m), 1507 (w), 1483 (w), 1453 (m), 1436 (m), 1404 (m), 1377 (w), 1340 (s), 1294 (m), 1250 (m), 1221 (w), 1172 (s), 1148 (s), 1127 (m), 1107 (m), 1063 (m), 1009 (m), 941 (m), 852 (m), 809 (s), 785 (m), 746 (s), 722 cm1 (m). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.83 (t, 3J H,H = 7.1 Hz, 6 H, 2 ´ CH3), 1.20 - 1.42 (m, 16 H, 8 ´ CH2), 1.83 (s, 3 H, CH3), 1.87 - 1.95 (m, 2 H, β-CH2), 1.97 (s, 3 H, CH3), 2.21 - 2.29 (m, 2 H, β-CH2), 4.36 (dd, 3J H,H = 14.0 Hz, 1J H,H = 3.9 Hz, 1 H, CH2-N), 4.42 (dd, 3J H,H = 11.9 Hz, 1J H,H = 5.7 Hz, 1 H, CH2-O), 4.52 (dd, 3J H,H = 11.9 Hz, 1J H,H = 3.8 Hz, 1 H, CH2-O), 4.69 (dd, 3J H,H = 14.0 Hz, 1J H,H = 8.1 Hz, 1 H, CH2-N), 5.14 - 5.20 (m, 1 H, α-CH), 5.48 - 5.54 (m, 1 H, CH = C), 5.58 - 5.64 (m, 2 H, CH = C, CH2-CHO-CH2), 6.05 (s, 1 H, CH = C), 6.18 (s, 1 H, CH = C), 8.15 (d, 3J H,H = 8.1 Hz, 2 H, 2 ´ CHpery), 8.23 (d, 3J H,H = 8.1 Hz, 2 H, 2 ´ CHpery), 8.31 (d, 3J H,H = 7.9 Hz, 2 H, 2 ´ CHpery), 8.47 ppm (d, 3J H,H = 12.5 Hz, 2 H, 2 ´ CHpery). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 101 MHz): δ = 166.97, 166.87, 163.04, 135.94, 135.89, 134.30, 133.62, 131.10, 129.19, 129.00, 126.42, 126.37, 125.89, 125.77, 122.86, 122.64, 122.46, 70.07, 63.85, 54.98, 40.71, 30.46, 31.90, 29.36, 27.14, 22.71, 18.40, 18.31, 14.17 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 459 (20,900), 490 (55,500), 527 nm (92,700). Fluorescnce (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm): λmax (Irel): 534 (1.0), 576 (0.50), 625 nm (0.11). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm, E490nm/1cm = 0.0881, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.92. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 783.4 (55) [MH+], 782.4 (100) [M+], 601.2 (62) [M+ − C35H25O8N2], 429.1 (100) [M+ − C24H15O7N1]. HRMS (C48H50N2O8): Calcd. m/z: 782.3567, found m/z: 782.3560, Δ = 0.0007 mmu. C48H50N2O8 (646.3): Calcd. C 73.64, H 6.44, N 3.58; found C 73.40, H 6.46, N 3.57.

2,9-Bis-[2-(methacryloyloxymethoxy)-2-pentylheptyl]anthra[2,1,9-def;6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10-tetraone (10): Toluene (50 mL) and 2,9-bis-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pentylheptyl]anthra[2,1,9-def;6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10-tetraone [24] (1.00 g, 1.27 mmol) were stirred under argon atmosphere, treated with triethylamine (1.29 g, 12.7 mmol) and methacroylchloride (1.33 g, 12.7 mmol), stirred at 20˚C for 3 d, treated with further methacroylchloride (2.0 g) and chloroform (10 mL), stirred for 16 h, treated with further methacroylchloride (1 g), stirred at 35˚C for 6 h, evaporated in vacuo, purified by column separation (silica gel, chloroform/acetone 100:1), dissolved in the minimal amount of chloroform, precipitated with methanol, collected by vacuum filtration and dried at 110˚C for 16 h. Yield 680 mg (58 %) red solid, m.p. 152˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform/acetone 100:1): 0.37. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 2954 (m), 2929 (m), 2860 (w), 1699 (s), 1659 (s), 1594 (s), 1578 (m), 1507 (w), 1454 (m), 1436 (m), 1404 (m), 1376 (m), 1335 (s), 1295 (s), 1248 (m), 1217 (m), 1160 (s), 1126 (m), 1068 (w), 1013 (m), 989 (m), 935 (m), 892 (w), 853 (m), 834 (w), 809 (s), 795 (m), 747 (s), 725 (m), 672 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.88 (t, 3J H,H = 7.1 Hz, 12 H, 6 ´ CH3), 1.21 - 1.51 (m, 32 H, 16 ´ CH2), 1.69 (s, 6H, 2 ´ CH3), 4.09 (s, 4 H, 2 ´ CH2-O), 4.34 (s, 4 H, 2 ´ CH2-N), 5.16 - 5.19 (m, 1 H, CH = C), 5.80 (s, 1 H, CH = C), 8.52 - 8.66 ppm (m, 8 H, 8 ´ CHpery). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 101 MHz): δ = 167.24, 164.29, 136.49, 134.65, 131.70, 129.36, 126.46, 124.88, 123.49, 123.18, 69.26, 45.35, 41.84, 33.91, 32.96, 22.97, 22.73, 18.24, 14.20 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 459 (20700), 488 (52900), 525 nm (84500). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm): λmax (Irel): 533 (1.0), 575 (0.50), 624 nm (0.11). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm, E490nm/1cm = 0.0745, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.88. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 923.5 (59) [MH+], 922.5 (84) [M+], 657.3 (27) [M+ − C41H41O6N2], 404.1 (56) [M+ − C25H12O4N2]. HRMS (C58H70N2O8): Calcd. m/z: 922.5132, found m/z: 922.5115, Δ = 0.0017 mmu. C58H70N2O8 (922.5): Calcd. C 75.46, H 7.64, N 3.03; found C 75.37, H 7.61, N 2.99.

2,9-Bis-[2-(methacryloyloxymethoxy)-2-octyldecyl]anthra[2,1,9-def;6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10-tetraone (11): Toluene (6 mL) and 2,9-bis-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-octyldecyl]anthra[2,1,9-def;6,5,10-d’e’f’]diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10-tetraone [24] (40 mg, 0.040 mmol) were stirred under argon atmosphere, treated with triethylamine (88 mg, 0.85 mmol) and methacroylchloride (89 mg, 0.85 mmol), stirred at 20˚C for 3 d, evaporated in vacuo, purified by column separation (silica gel, chloroform/acetone 100:1) dissolved in a minimal amount of chloroforme, precipitated with methanol and dried at 110˚C for 16 h. Yield 26 mg (57%), red solid, m.p. 152˚C. Rf (silica gel, chloroform/acetone 100:1): 0.42. IR (ATR): ν ˜ = 2954 (m), 2923 (s), 2853 (m), 1699 (s), 1658 (s), 1616 (w), 1594 (s), 1578 (m), 1507 (w), 1456 (m), 1437 (m), 1404 (m), 1373 (m), 1336 (s), 1295 (m), 1250 (m), 1217 (w), 1166 (s), 1126 (m), 1012 (m), 986 (m), 935 (m), 890 (w), 857 (m), 834 (w), 810 (s), 796 (m), 748 (s), 721 (m), 673 cm-1 (w). 1H NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 600 MHz): δ = 0.86 (t, 3JH,H = 7.0 Hz, 12 H, 6 ´ CH3), 1.19 - 1.50 (m, 56 H, 28 ´ CH2), 1.68 (s, 6 H, 2 ´ CH3), 4.06 (s, 4 H, 2 ´ CH2-N), 4.31 (s, 4 H, 2 ´ CH2-OH), 5.16 - 5.19 (m, 1 H, C = CH), 5.79 (s, 1 H, C = CH), 8.36 (d, 3JH,H = 7.1 Hz, 4 H, 2 ´ CHpery), 8.47 ppm (d, 3JH,H = 7.6 Hz, 4 H, 2 ´ CHpery). 13C NMR (CDCl3/TMS, 150 MHz): δ = 167.20, 164.04, 136.48, 134.24, 131.40, 129.07, 126.07, 124.85, 123.34, 122.96, 69.17, 45.26, 41.79, 33.93, 32.02, 30.74, 29.67, 29.45, 23.28, 22.81, 18.23, 14.25 ppm. UV/Vis (CHCl3): λmax (ε) = 458 (17,100), 489 (50,900), 526 nm (85,900). Fluorescence (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm): λmax (Irel): 534 (1.0), 575 (0.50), 623 nm (0.12). Fluorescence quantum yield (CHCl3, λexc = 490 nm, E490nm/1cm = 0.0544, reference: S-13 with Φ = 1.00): Φ = 0.85. MS (DEI+, 70 eV): m/z (%) = 1091.4 (73) [MH+], 1090.4 (100) [M+], 1004.6 (11) [M+ − C66H88N2O6], 741.4 (33) [M+ − C47H53N2O6], 404.1 (50) [M+ − C25H12O4N2]. MS (FAB+/70 eV): m/z = 1091.4 [MH+], 1006.3 [M+ − C66H90N2O6], 741.9 [M+ − C47H53N2O6]. MS (FAB-/70 eV): m/z = 1090.1 [M-]. HRMS (C70H94N2O8): Calcd. m/z: 1090.7010, found m/z: 1090.7013, Δ = 0.0003 mmu. C70H94N2O8 (1090.7): Calcd. C 77.03, H 8.68, N 2.57; found C 77.03, H 8.75, N 2.54.

ONP by RAFT co-polymerisation of polymerizable labels with styrene and methylmethacrylare, respectively; general procedure: The polymerizable labels 1 until 9 were dissolved in freshly distilled styrene and methylmethacrylate, respectively, treated with 2,2’-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) and then with S-cyanomethyl-S’-dodecylcarbonotrithioate (10) and 2-cyanopropan-2-yl-dodecylcarbonotrithioate, respectively, stirred under argon atmosphere for 5 min, stirred a definite time at 70˚C for polymerisation (delay for heating about 12 until 15 min), quenched by the addition of the quantity of a micro spatulum of hydroquinone, treated with a small amount of toluene (max. 5 mL), precipitated with methanol, repeatedly dissolved in toluene and precipitated with methanol until neither a coloration nor fluorescence (365 nm fluorescent lamp) could be detected of the liquid phase and dried in air at 80˚C; see Table 1 and Table 2.

ONP-doped polymers by means of polymerisation: 50 … 100 ppm ONP and AIBN (1.5 mg, 0.009 mmol) were stirred with the monomer (9 g) styrene and methylmethacrylate, respectively, until homogeneous, treated with further monomer (1 g), stirred for 15 min, treated with AIBN (1.5 mg, 0.009 mmol), polymerised at 70˚C for 1.5 h and hardened at 47˚C for 3 d. The fluorescence of the ONP could be detected with optical excitation at 490 nm and corresponds to the fluorescence of the isolated ONP.

ONP-doped polymers by means of incorporation: 50 … 100 ppm ONP (until 300 ppm ONP for 15 and 16) and technical Delrin (polyoxomethylene, 3 g) were treated with chloroform (1 mL), homogenized by stirring, allowed to evaporate in air, melt by means of a heat gun at about 300˚C with stirring and kneading for 3 min and shock cooled in liquid nitrogen. The fluorescence of ONP could be detected with optical excitation at 490 nm.

Degradation of ONP-doped Delrin: Doped Delrin was refluxed with concentrated hydrochloric acid (bath 120˚C) until dissolution (15 min until 1 h depending on technical processing), allowed to cool, extracted with chloroform and characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the applied chromophores were obtained.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. RAFT Polymerisation

We have applied the radical-induced RAFT polymerisation [13] (Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer) to styrene, where the chain propagation was controlled by the concentration of added RAFT reagent 1 [18] .

The reversible addition of radicals to the trithiocarbonate structure of 1 causes a low stationary concentration of free radicals both with uniform conditions for

Table 1. Synthesis of styrene-based ONP according to the general procedure: 12 [absorption λmax (Erel) = 527 (1.00), 490 (0.61), 459 nm (0.24); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 535 (1.00), 577 (0.51), 626 nm (0.12)], 13 [absorption λmax = 589 nm; fluorescence λmax = 600 nm]; 14 [absorption λmax (Erel) = 654 (1.00), 600 (0.64), 555 nm (0.32); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 673 (1.00), 736 nm (0.46)], 15 [absorption λmax (Erel) = 479 (0.15), 439 (0.54), 417 (0.41), 367 nm (1.00); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 500 (1.00), 523 nm (0.84)], 16 [absorption λmax (Erel) = 467 (1.00), 437 (0.66), 410 (0.33), 377 nm (0.57); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 467 (1.00), 508 nm (0.97)]. Fluorescence quantum yield Φ. Fluorescence excitation at 490 nm.

Table 2. Synthesis of methylmethacrylate-based ONP (MMA) according to the general procedure: 17a [absorption λmax (Erel) = 527 (1.00), 490 (0.63), 459 nm (0.23); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 535 (1.00), 577 (0.51), 625 nm (0.13)], 18a [absorption λmax (Erel) = 527 (1.00), 490 (0.63), 459 nm (0.25); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 535 (1.00), 577 (0.51), 625 nm (0.13)]; 19 [absorption λmax (Erel) = 527 (1.00), 491 (0.63), 459 nm (0.25); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 535 (1.00), 576 (0.59), 625 nm (0.12)], 20 [absorption λmax (Erel) = 526 (1.00), 490 (0.63), 459 nm (0.25); fluorescence λmax (Irel) = 534 (1.00), 576 (0.50), 625 nm (0.12)]. Fluorescence quantum yield Φ. Fluorescence excitation at 490 nm.

the chain propagation and a suppression of the bimolecular termination by combination and disproportionation reactions [19] [20] [21] . The consequence is a narrow distribution of the molecular weight and a targeted nearly uniform size of the thus formed polymeric particles, respectively. As an alternative, we polymerised MMA (methyl methacrylate) under RAFT conditions where we applied the reagent [14] 2 because of more similarity with MMA and the polymeric PMMA than 1. The monomeric styrene was copolymerized with vinylphenyl groups attached to chromophores for the introduction of fluorescence into the ONP. Alternatively, methacylic esters of chromophores were copolymerised with MMA.

3.2. Synthesis of Fluorescent Labels

Perylenes [15] [16] were applied as basic structures of fluorescent chromophores because of their chemical and photochemical stability and high fluorescence quantum yields. Their inherently low solubility was overcome by the attachment of long-chain secondary alkyl groups (swallow-tail substituents) such as the 1-hexylheptyl group.

Vinylphenyl-modified perylenes were targeted for co-polymerisation with styrene. Thus, we condensed the corresponding anhydride function with 4-aminostyrene to obtain 3 [17] (see Scheme 1). For the more bathochromic spectral region in the UV/Vis the aromatic core of 3 was laterally extended by a phenylimidazolo group [11] . Thus, the corresponding N,N’-bis-1-hexylheptylbiscarboximide was partially hydrolysed under rough alkaline conditions to end-up in a difficult separable mixture of regio isomeric anhydrides-carboximides that was directly condensed with 4-aminostyrene in the same manner as described for 3 to obtain

Scheme 1. Synthesis of fluorescent labels with vinyl groups.

the mixture 4a/b. This mixture could not be separated on a preparative scale; however, the UV/Vis spectral properties of 4a and 4b are so similar that a separation is not necessary for practical applications (TLC separation, nearly uniform UV/Vis spectra). For covering the even more bathochromic spectral region terrylenebiscarboximides were applied meaning a naphthalene-core-prolonged perylenebiscarboximide. Synthesis started similarly to 4a/b with a terrylene biscarboximide [18] with two even more effectively solubilising 1-nonyldecyl substituents, hydrolysing to give the corresponding anhydridecarboximide and its condensation with 4-aminostyrene to obtain 5. For the more hypsochromic spectral region perylenebiscarboximide with two solubilising 1-hexylheptyl substituents was core-modified by means of a Diels-Alder-Clar reaction with maleic anhydride leading in a five-membered ring anhydride [25] that was condensed with 4-aminostyrene to obtain the benzoperylene-derived label 6. Furthermore, benzoperyleneanhydride-carboximide [22] was allowed to condense with 4-aminostyrene in the same manner to obtain the benzoperylenedicarboximide 7.

We prepared methacrylic esters of chromophores for more similarity in the co-polymerisation with MMA. Thus, the well-accessible perylenetetracarboxylic-3,4-anhydride-9-carboxylicacid-10-potassium salt [26] [27] was condensed with 3-hydroxypropylamine, then with 1-hexylheptylamine and allowed to react with methacroylchloride to obtain 8 (see Scheme 2). Two methacroylester groups were attached in 9 for cross linking. Thus, the perylene anhydride-carboximide with the solubilising 1-hexylheptyl substituent attached to the nitrogen atom was condensed [23] with aminodihydroxypropane and allowed to react with methacroylchloride for the preparation of 9 where the chromophore remains attached to the side chain of the polymer. For a cross-linking across the chromophore perylenetetracarboxylic bisanhydride was condensed [24] with 2-aminomethyl-2-pentylheptyl-1-ol where the solubilising effect was brought-about by the geminal alkyl groups. Further reaction with methacroyl chloride gave 10. The solubilising effect of the geminal alkyl groups could be further increased by means of a prolongation of the alkyl groups to obtain 11 in

Scheme 2. Synthesis of fluorescent labels with methacrylic ester groups.

the same manner as described above for 10.

3.3. Fluorescent Organo-Nano Particles (ONP)

Radical RAFT polymerisation (Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer) mediated and over-all controlled by 1 was applied to a mixture of styrene and 3 until 7 for the preparation of ONP 12 until 16 as co-polymers (see Scheme 3). The reactions proceeded smoothly without problems concerning the Trommsdoff effect. A comparably narrow distribution in molecular weight of 12 was obtained with polydispersities PD as low as about 1.1 (1.04 until 1.19); see 12a until 12g in Table 1 and Table 3.

The molecular weights Mn of 12 decrease with increasing concentrations of 1 from 23,300 to 3300 (12a until 12g) and the size decreases from 66 nm to 7 nm where the smaller nano particles seem to be more compact presumably because of the local influence of the chromophore. An increase of the concentration of labelling agent 3 (12h until 12l) deceases also the molecular weight, however, not as pronounced as with increasing concentrations of 1. An aggregation of 3 at higher concentrations is indicated by a colour deepening from orange to red and

Scheme 3. Fluorescent organonanoparticles (ONP).

Table 3. ONP by the copolymerisation of 3 until 7 and styrene under RAFT condition mediated by 1; Mn and Mw by GPC (UV detector, acetonitrile, calibration with polystyrene). Size by DLS.

a. Interference of the signal processing with fluorescence.

is made responsible for the lowering of the size by impeding the polymerization. Finally, the size of the nano particles can be controlled with 1 in the same manner as with the monomers of co-polymerisation of styrene such as for 4a/b (13a until 13d) and 7 (16a until 16d).

A further type of ONP was prepared on the basis of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) where methyl methacrylate was co-polymerised under RAFT condition. Markers 8 until 11 were applied and the reaction was controlled by means of 2; see Table 2 and Table 4. The scope of reproducibility of the synthesis is indicated by 17a and 17b where the decrease of the concentration of marker (17c) causes as well larger particles as an decrease of the concentration of 2 (17d); this corresponds completely to 12. Comparably large ONP were obtained with a

Table 4. ONP by the copolymerisation of 8 until 11 and methyl methacrylate under RAFT condition controlled by 2; Mn and Mw by GPC. Size by DLS.

reaction time of 24 h (17a until 17e). The shortening of the reaction time to 3 h (17f until 17h) and even to 1 h (17i) decreases the size of the ONP appreciably until 11 nm. The lowering of the concentration of the RAFT reagent 2 (17g, 17h and 17j) causes an increase of the molecular weight and the size of particles, respectively. The same influence was found for 1 and polystyrene even for short reaction times (17i).

The bis-ester 9 can expected to act as a cross-linker where the chromophore is situated at the side chain (18a until 18d). The concentration of the RAFT reagent 2 influences the size not as pronounced as for 8 (18b and 18c); the reaction time and the concentration of the cross linker 9 (18a and 18c) are more important (18b and 18d). An aggregation of the chromophore constraining the growths of the chains is made therefore responsible; the latter is indicated by a colour deepening of the ONP from orange to red with increasing concentration of the marker. Surprisingly, it seems of minor importance whether the chromophore is placed in the cross linking position or not (19a until 19d). A lowering of the concentration of the cross linker increases the size of the particles (19a and 19b) where the reaction time is more important (19b and 19c) than the concentration of 2 (19c and 19d). Finally, an increase of the chain length of the solubilising groups causes the formation of larger ONP (18b and 20). The properties of cross-linked and linear ONP seem to be similar, however, the cross-linking causes of the particles to dissolve more slowly in organic solvents.

A comparably low molecular weight was found for the nano particles 12g by means of GPC and could be verified with MALDI as is shown in Figure 1. The pattern of peaks corresponds to the mass differences of units of styrene. A uniform size can be seen in Figure 2.

The ONP exhibit a comparably narrow distribution in size determined by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS); this corresponds to their low values of the polydispersity PD (see Table 1 and Table 2). The very small particles 17i exhibit a broader distribution in size; this may be caused by the influence of the larger share of the chromophore. The distribution in size of the typical samples 18a until 18d is shown in Figure 3.

The thermal stability of ONP was tested by means of thermogravimetry (TGA) and reported for the typical samples 12a and 17a in Figure 4. The particles were completely stable until 200˚C. A loss of mass between 10 and 13% proceeds slightly above 200˚C and is attributed to a loss [28] of the terminal trithiocarbonate group. On the other hand, this does not affect the function of the fluorescent nano particles being thermally stable until more than 300˚C. Thus, the ONP can be applied under conditions of the processing of technical polymers.

The perylene-derived chromophores remain nearly unaffected by the incorporation into ONP as is shown in Figure 5 where both the structured absorption

Figure 1. Segments of the MALDI spectra of the styrene-based ONP 12g in reflection mode. Left: Positive ionisation. Right: Negative ionisation (matrix IAA + AgTFA in THF).

Figure 2. SEM representations of ONP 12b (left and middle) and 12d (right).

Figure 3. Size distribution d in nm of the ONP 17a until 17j by means of DLS.

Figure 4. Thermo gravimetry (TGA) of the ONP 12a (left) and 17a.

and fluorescence of ONP 12 are very similar to the spectra of the chromophore in homogeneous solution; for comparison see, for example ref. [15] [16] . The particles are highly fluorescent, see Table 1 and Table 2, and the light emission of ONP 12 until 16 covers the most of the visible region as is shown in Figure 6.

The ONP can be incorporated into polymers for applications such as fluorescent labelling. The more styrene-similar ONP 12 until 16 were spread in monomeric styrene and the more methacrylate-like ONP 17 until 20 preferently in methyl methacrylate, respectively, and polymerised with a free radical-generating initiator (the Trommsdorff effect could be avoided by a slow processing). Highly transparent materials were obtained where the PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) is even more clear than the PS (polystyrene). The fluorescent spectra of the doped PS containing the ONP 12 until 15 are reported in Figure 6, left. POM (polyoxomethylene) was doped by the treatment of dissolved ONP, rapidly melt with stirring and chilling with liquid nitrogen. The fluorescence spectrum of the

Figure 5. The very similar UV/Vis absorption (left, left abscissa, maxima at 526, 489 and 457 nm) and fluorescent spectra (right, right abscissa, nearly congruent spectra, maxima at 535, 578 and 627 nm, optical excitation at 589 nm) of ONP 12a (solid line), 12b (dotted) 12c (dashed) and 12d dotted dashed in chloroform.

Figure 6. Left from left to right: The fluorescence spectra of the ONP 15, 12 and 13 in polystyrene. Inset: ONP 12 in technical POM (polyoxomethylene, Delrin®).

ONP 12-doped POM is reported in Figure 6, right. The fluorescence spectra of the doped polymers are identical with the spectra of dissolved ONP. A doping as low as 5 ppm ONP can be easily detected with routine fluorescence spectrometers. The doping of PMMA plates with such low concentrations render the material colorless, however, slight fluorescence can be even visually seen at the edges because of the light amplification caused by the effect known from the fluorescence planar concentrator [29] . The fluorescence signal increases with doping linearly until 100 ppm. At even higher concentrations the increase is damped attributed to the aggregation of ONP. Similar results were obtained with the polymers Luran® (polystyrene/polyacrylonitrile copolymer) and Ultramid® (polyamide compound material).

The doping of polymers exhibit a high light fastness; this is demonstrated with a doped PMMA plate in Figure 7 where no photo degradation of the fluorescent signal could be observed under the influence of direct sunlight. Measurements scatter in the same way as for a sample stored in the dark. No fading of fluorescence was visually observed for ONP-doped PMMA plates exposed to ambient light over a period of more than two years. As a consequence, the reported fluorescent ONP are suitable fluorescent marker [30] for polymers in practical applications where their nano dimensions are of special advantage because restricting migrations.

The ONPs can be easily handled as stable powders at room temperature for months; the long-term stability and possibilities of degradation, respectively, were studied by exposure to air for a period of three years. Appearance and fluorescence remained unaltered, however, GPC measurements indicated some degradation with lowering the number average of the molecular weight Mn

Figure 7. Stability test of ONP 12b in a PMMA plate (5 mm). Abscissa: Time of irradiation with direct sunlight (Munich, May 2015). Ordinate: Fluorescence intensity I in arbitrary units of the spectrometer. Circles: doping with 300 ppm ONP, diamonds doping with 900 ppm ONP. Filled symbols: Irradiated sample. Open symbols: references stored in the dark.

Figure 8. Aging of ONP: The number average of the molecular weights Mn, of ONPs (see Table 5) and the influence of the exposition to air at room temperature after a period of three years [Mn (3 years)]; the slope < 1 indicates stronger alterations of larger particles. Inset upper left: Linearity between Mn and Mw for ONPs; the slope slightly larger than 1 indicates a higher uniformity of smaller particles. Inset lower left: Linearity between Mn (3 years) and Mw(3 years) for ONPs after an exposition to air after a period of three years (3 years); the slope slightly higher than the slope of the upper left diagram indicates a stronger alteration of the larger ONPs by ageing.

Table 5. Aging of ONP: The number average of the molecular weights Mn, the weight average of the molecular weight Mw of ONP and changes after the exposure to air at room temperature for a period of three years [Mn (3 years), Mw(3 years) and PD (3 years)].

preferentially for larger ONPs (slope < 1 in Figure 8) and an increase of the polydispersity PD to about 1.4; see Table 5 and Figure 8. We conclude that the stability of the ONPs is high enough for processing, whereas a slow degradation can be expected in the environment attributed to the very high surface of the particles.

4. Conclusion

Organo-nanoparticles (ONP) with narrow distribution of size can be prepared by RAFT polymerisation where the co-polymerisation with vinyl-substituted chromophores introduces fluorescence as a functionality of such materials. The size of the ONP is controlled both by the concentration of the applied RAFT reagent and the amount of added polymerisable chromophore for co-polymerisation. Small ONP are more compact than larger ones indicated by the relatively smaller size compared with their molecular weight. Adapted perylene-derived chromophores allow the preparation of strongly fluorescent ONP with emission covering the whole visible region. Application of ONP as non-migrating makers of polymers is of interest such as for recycling applications where a binary coding [30] of applied n fluorescent marker allows a characteristic labelling of 2n-1 materials. Moreover, such marking may be applied for efficient and easily detectable tamper- [31] and forgery-proof [32] optical elements.

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Fonds der chemischen Industrie and the CIPSM Cluster in Munich.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Langhals, H., Zgela, D., Haffner, A., Koschnick, C., Gottschling, K. and Paulik, C. (2018) Functional Organo-Nano Particles by RAFT Copolymerisation. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 8, 247-274. https://doi.org/10.4236/gsc.2018.83017

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