Photophysical characteristics of polymerizable 1,8-naphthalimide dyes and their copolymers with styrene or methylmethacrylate

The study presents the photophysical characteristics in ethanol and benzene of four fluorescent 1,8-naphthalimides dyes containing polymerizing groups bound to imide nitrogen atom as well as an amino group in 4-position to naphthalene ring. The polymerization of styrene or methylmethacrylate in the presence of these dyes has been investigated. It was established that 83-90% of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and 79-91% > of polystyrene (PS) are chemically bound to the polymer chain. Absorption 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 the amino group in the structure of the dyes. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.