Full-colour tunable fluorescent aliphatic polyethers via one-pot dual end-functionalisation

Nonconventional fluorescent polymers (NCFPs) have garnered significant attention due to their aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties and biocompatibility. However, these polymers typically emit blue fluorescence, which limits their practical applications. In this study, we present a one-step, self-catalysed anionic hybrid copolymerisation strategy for synthesising functionalised polyethers (FPEs) with amide and N-phenylmaleimide groups. The resulting FPEs exhibit full-colour tunable fluorescence with pH responsiveness, attributed to the formation of luminescent clusters and the keto-enol tautomerism of the imide moieties. Mechanistic investigations reveal dynamic Stokes shifts and inner-filter effects, enabling precise modulation of emission colour across the visible spectrum. Intra-/Inter-molecular through-space conjugation (TSC) effectively narrows the HOMO-LUMO gap, resulting in redshifted emissions. This work provides a straightforward synthetic route to multifunctional NCFPs with broad-spectrum emission, thereby enhancing their utility in photonic technologies.