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

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 (H-1 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.