PHOTOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYMERIZABLE 1,8-NAPHTHALIMIDE DYESAND THEIR COPOLYMERS WITH STYRENE OR METHYLMETHACRYLATE

The study presents the photophysical characteristics in ethanol and be nzene of four fluorescent 1,8-naphthalimides dyes containing polymeriz ing groups bound to imide nitrogen atom as well as an amino group in 4 -position to naphthalene ring. The polymerization of styrene or methyl methacrylate in the presence of these dyes has been investigated. It w as established that 83-90% of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and 79-91% > of polystyrene (PS) are chemically bound to the polymer chain. Abso rption and fluorescent spectra of polymers structurally coloured with naphthalimide dyes in organic solvent and solid film are discussed. It was found that the photophysical properties, polymerization rate and specific viscosity of the polymers coloured depend on the nature of th e amino group in the structure of the dyes. (C) 1998 Published by Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.