New fluorescent monomers and polymers displaying an intramolecular proton-transfer mechanism in the electronically excited state (ESIPT), 1. Synthesis of benzazolylvinylene derivatives and its copolymerization with methyl methacrylate (MMA)

Six new fluorescent monomers of the benzazole family were synthesized by the reaction of 2-(5′-amino-2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzazole derivatives and differently functionalized vinylene compounds. The radical copolymerization of the monomers with MMA results in transparent and fluorescent polymers with good optical and thermal properties. These monomers and copolymers emit fluorescence with a large Stokes shift due to the intramolecular proton-transfer mechanism in the electronically excited state (ESIPT).