Efficient one-pot strategy for fluorescent conjugated polymers derived from 8-amino-1-naphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid: Synthesis, thermal and optical properties

Schiff base polymers, also known as poly(imines) or poly(azomethine)s, constitute a subset of conjugated polymers. The Schiff base compound was synthesized via the condensation reaction between 8-amino-1-naphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Subsequently, both 8-amino-1-naphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid and its Schiff base derivative were polymerized into a poly(naphthol) (PANAPDSA) and Schiff base polymer (PANAPDSASB) under alkaline condition using H₂O₂ (35 % aqueous solution) as oxidant via oxidative polycondensation (OP). The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were approved using NMR, FT-IR, UV–Vis, element and LC-MS/MS spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized polymers exhibited lower optical and electrochemical band gaps compared to their respective monomers, suggesting their potential utility as semiconductor materials. The poly(naphthol) derivative exhibited high fluorescent emission intensity of 1000 a.u. when excited at 300 nm with a photoluminescence (PL) emission quantum yield of 13.6 % at 392 nm of emission wavelength in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. Weight average molecular weight (M_w) values of PANAPDSA and PANAPDSASB ranged from 9500 Da to 11200 Da, with PDI values between 1.12 and 1.13. The synthesis of conjugated polymers could hold significant importance in technological advancements.