A NEW FLUORESCENCE PROBE FOR NETWORK FORMATION WITH INTERESTING NONLINEAR OPTICAL-PROPERTIES

Communication: Molecular sensors can be used to monitor the polymeriza tion of linear precursors and also the formation of epoxy networks. Th e synthesis and properties of a novel fluorescence probe, tris(p-isocy anatophenyl)amine (TIPA), which acts both as a crosslinking site and a s a chemical sensor, are described. A dramatic change of fluorescence intensity coupled with the high second-order hyperpolarizability of TI PA and its urethane derivative make it promising for the synthesis of nonlinear optical thermosets whose degree of curing and the mobility o f the crosslink points can be measured by luminescence.