Synthesis of fluorescent polymers from hydrostyryl pyridinium derivatives and their multichromatic fluorescence behaviors.

[Display omitted] • A series of hydrostyryl pyridinium derivatives with dual-state emission behaviors were employed for synthesis of fluorescent polymers resulting unique fluorescent behaviors. • Significant solvent- and excitation-dependent fluorescent emissions were observed and their multichromatic behaviors caused by enol-to-keto transition of phenol group and aggregation were addressed by using quantum computation. To synthesize fluorescent polymers, hydrostyryl pyridinium derivatives were methacrylated and afforded monomers of MA-SP-OH-X (X = NO 2 , F, substituted group on phenyl ring) followed by free-radically homo- and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA) and styrene (St), respectively. The resulting copolymers showed green, orange and red emissions with significant multichromatic behaviors and solvent- and excitation-dependence. Moreover, P(BA- co -MA-SP-OH-NO 2) behaved as a thermal elastomer and showed high stretchability and self-heal performance. In addition, with the copolymers as macro-additives, fluorescent poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) films were fabricated by using electrospinning technique. The unexpected multichromatic fluorescent behaviors showed by the copolymers were attributed to the enol-to-keto transition of phenol group in SP-OH moiety and significant aggregation of fluorophore moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]