Mechanochromic polyurethane elastomers containing main-chain naphthalimide moieties

Key Points

• The aim is to synthesize novel mechanochromic polyurethane elastomers utilizing naphthalimide as a mechanofluorophore.
• Synthesis of polyurethane elastomers using naphthalimide as a mechanofluorophore.
• Connection of two naphthalimide units with an ethynylene-phenyleneethynylene unit to extend π-conjugation.
• Measurement of light absorption at specific wavelengths.
• The synthesized elastomers exhibited significant mechanochromic properties.
• Light absorption was observed at 402 nm.
• The insertion of the conjugated unit enhanced the elastic properties.