Decorating the Edges of a 2D Polymer with a Fluorescence Label

This work proves the existence and chemical addressability of defined edge groups of a 2D polymer. Pseudohexagonally prismatic single crystals consisting of layered stacks of a 2D polymer are used. They should expose anthracene-based edge groups at the six (100) but not at the two pseudohexagonal (001) and (00 (1) over bar) faces. The crystals are reacted with the isotopically enriched dienophiles maleic anhydride and a C18-alkyl chain-modified maleimide. In both cases the corresponding Diels-Alder adducts between these reagents and the edge groups are formed as confirmed by solid state NMR spectroscopy. The same applies to a maleimide derivative carrying a BODIPY dye which was chosen for its fluorescence to be out of the range of the self fluorescence of the 2D polymer crystals stemming from contained template molecules. If the crystals are excited at lambda = 633 nm, their (100) faces and thus their rims fluoresce brightly, while the pseudohexagonal faces remain silent. This is visible when the crystals lie on a pseudohexagonal face. Lambda-mode laser scanning microscopy confirms this fluorescence to originate from the BODIPY dye. Micromechanical exfoliation of the dye-modified crystals results in thinner sheet packages which still exhibit BODIPY fluorescence right at the rim of these packages. This work establishes the chemical nature of the edge groups of a 2D polymer and is also the first implementation of an edge group modification similar to end group modifications of linear polymers.