New conjugated polyfluorenes carrying main-chain bipyridyl fragments as efficient fluorescent chemosensors for transition-metal ions

New conjugated fluorescent bipyridyl-containing polyfluorenes are synthesized. They feature fluorescence, can chelate with metal ions, combine solubility in organic solvents with high thermal characteristics, and exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity to terbium ions. Polyfluorenes are promising for use as a basis for the design of efficient fluorescent chemosorbents.