A combination of RAFT and “Click” chemistry techniques to synthesize polymeric europium complexes with selective fluorescence emission

Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions were utilized to access a novel monomer, 2-methyl-acrylic acid 1-(7-diethylamino-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1H-[1,2,3] triazol-4-ylmethyl ester (CTEMA), with mild reaction conditions and high yield. The RAFT copolymerization of CTEMA with methyl methacrylate (MMA) showed the features of “living”/controlled radical polymerization. Polymeric europium complexes were successfully prepared by the reaction between copolymers and pre-complexed europium. The weight percent of the Eu(III) ion in the polymer (Eu%) reached up to 29.5%. The polymeric europium complexes displayed different fluorescent profiles using different excitation wavelengths.