A Fluorescent Chemosensor for Transition‐Metal Ions Based on Optically Active Polybinaphthyl and 2,2′‐Bipyridine

Abstract The linear conjugated polymer based on the 5,5′‐positions of chiral 1,1′‐binaphthyl shows strong green‐blue fluorescence with high fluorescence quantum efficiency due to the extendedπ‐electronic structure between the chiral repeating unit and the 2,2′‐bipyridyl conjugated linker unit. Cu2+and Ni2+can form non‐radiative metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer complexes with the polymer, and Co2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Fe2+can cause effective fluorescent quenching, which can be attributed to an energy transfer from theπ‐conjugated chiral polymer to the metal complexes. A better understanding of energy‐transfer processes in the polymers can provide information for the design of more sensitive materials. magnified image