Synthesis and fluorescence properties of novel 1,10‐phenanthroline‐functionalized polyaryletherketone and its rare earth complexes

Abstract 1,10‐Phenanthroline‐functionalized polyaryletherketone (PPEK) was synthesized by the amidation reaction of 5‐amino‐1,10‐phenanthroline with polyaryletherketone containing pendant acyl chloride groups. Subsequently, a series of novel rare earth coordination polymers (with rare earths Eu 3+ , Tb 3+ , Sm 3+ and Dy 3+ ) were prepared, using PPEK as macromolecular ligand and the small 1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen) molecule as synergistic ligand. Their structures were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X‐ray diffraction, which confirmed that both PPEK and Phen participated in the coordination reaction with the rare earth ions, and that the rare earth ions could disperse homogeneously in the polymer matrix. The rare earth coordination polymers were soluble in polar solvents such as N , N ‐dimethylformamide, N , N ‐dimethylacetamide and N ‐methylpyrrolidone, and could be easily cast into transparent tough thin films. Fluorescence measurements indicated that all the coordination polymers exhibited the intense characteristic fluorescence of the corresponding rare earth ions under ultraviolet excitation, showing their application potential in optical display devices. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry