Chiral gold(I)-containing polymeric composites: chiroptical sensing and circularly polarized luminescence

Fiber-like gold(I)-containing polymeric composites have been constructed in water by coupling poly(ethylene glycol)block-poly-(L-glutamic sodium) (PEGnb-PLGSm) with cationic gold(I) complex. The resulting composites showed a gradual luminescence enhancement with increasing molecular weight of the PLGSm block, due to gradually increasing aurophilic Au(I) Au(I) interactions in the gold(I) complex. Moreover, the chiral transfer from the chiral block copolymers to the gold(I) complex was achieved for the first time, leading to strong circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Such chiroptical sensing offers a general approach for constructing CPL active polymer/metal complex composites. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, fiber-like gold(I)-containing polymeric composites were successfully constructed in water, showing gradual luminescence enhancement with increasing molecular weight of the PLGSm block. Chiral transfer was achieved for the first time, resulting in strong circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), providing a general approach for constructing CPL active polymer/metal complex composites.