POLYMER-BOUND CHROMOGENIC CROWN-ETHERS AS THE CLADDING MATERIAL FOR POLYMER OPTICAL WAVE-GUIDES

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the chromoionophor ic poly(methyl thacryloylmethyl]anthrylmethyl)monoaza-18-crown-6) (4) copolymer is described. Complexation of K+ by extraction from aqueous medium with toluene solutions of (4) was found to enhance the intensit y of fluorescence up to 40% compared to the situation in which no K+ w as complexed. For low concentrations, the intensity of fluorescence wa s found to increase linearly with the concentration of K+ in the aqueo us solution. The copolymer (4) might be used for the transduction of t he chemical recognition of K+ into an optical signal in evanescent wav e fluorescence chemical sensors based on poly(methyl methacrylate) opt ical waveguides.