Novel NBN-Embedded Polymers and Their Application as Fluorescent Probes in Fe<sup>3+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> Detection

oleh: Tao Li, Yu-Jing Sheng, Xiao-Li Sun, Wen-Ming Wan, Yanru Liu, Qingrong Qian, Qinghua Chen

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-05-01

Deskripsi

The isosteric replacement of C═C by B–N units in conjugated organic systems has recently attracted tremendous interest due to its desirable optical, electronic and sensory properties. Compared with BN-, NBN- and BNB-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, NBN-embedded polymers are poised to expand the diversity and functionality of olefin polymers, but this new class of materials remain underexplored. Herein, a series of polymers with BNB-doped π-system as a pendant group were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization from NBN-containing vinyl monomers, which was prepared via intermolecular dehydration reaction between boronic acid and diamine moieties in one pot. Poly{2-(4-Vinylphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-naphtho[1,8-de][1,3,2]diazaborinine} (P1), poly{N-(4-(1H-naphtho[1,8-de][1,3,2]diazaborinin-2(3H)-yl)phenyl)acrylamide} (P2) and poly{N-(4-(1H-benzo[d][1,3,2]diazaborol-2(3H)-yl)phenyl)acrylamide} (P3) were successfully synthesized. Their structure, photophysical properties and application in metal ion detection were investigated. Three polymers exhibit obvious solvatochromic fluorescence. As fluorescent sensors for the detection of Fe<sup>3+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup>, P1 and P2 show excellent selectivity and sensitivity. The limit of detection (LOD) achieved by Fe<sup>3+</sup> is 7.30 nM, and the LOD achieved by Cr<sup>3+</sup> is 14.69 nM, which indicates the great potential of these NBN-embedded polymers as metal fluorescence sensors.