New copoly(ether sulfone)s containing azobenzene crown-ether and fluorene moieties

• Synthesis and characterization of new copoly(ether sulfone)s with azo-crown-ether and fluorene units.
• The copolymers exhibited improved solubility and high thermal resistance.
• Study of the photoisomerization process and thermal relaxation in the starting and complexed copoly(ether sulfone)s.

New soluble and thermally-resistant copoly(ether sulfone)s, containing both azo-crown-ether and fluorene units, have been synthesized by using the Williamson reaction. In this respect the 4,4′-sulfonylbis(p-chlorophenyl) monomer was reacted with two bisphenols, namely 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and 4,4′-bis(4-hydroxyphenylazo)dibenzo-18-crown-6. The polymers synthesized were confirmed as chemical structures by FTIR and 1H NMR spectra and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, solubility and solution viscosity. The copolymers have been complexed with KSCN and the atomic potassium content was determined by EDX. A study of the photoisomerization process as well as the thermal relaxation of azoaromatic chromophores in the copoly(ether sulfone)s in dimethyl sulfoxide solution and of the corresponding complexes with KSCN was also presented.

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