Tunable fluorene-based dynamers through constitutional dynamic chemistry

Dynamic covalent iminofluorene-based oligomers and polymers have been generated. They undergo constitutional recomposition under the effect of two parameters, acidity and Zn-II metal ions. As a result, marked changes in physical properties take place. The results illustrate the response of such a dynamic system to chemical effectors (H+ and Zn-II), thus demonstrating the adaptive behavior of the system under the pressure of external factors. They also point to the possibility of modulating optical properties (UV-visible absorption and fluorescence) by constitutional recomposition in response to a specific trigger. Such features allow the development of dynamic materials, the functional properties of which may respond to external stimuli.