PROBING OF THE ION-PAIR ASSOCIATION IN MODEL IONOMERS BY EXCIMER FLUORESCENCE

The authors report results concerning the association of ion pairs attached at both ends of a linear chain in a nonpolar solvent. A sample of α,ω-bis(dimethylamino)polystyrene has been purposely quaternized with formation of ionic end groups. Most of the telechelic polystyrene has been quaternized with 1-bromoethane, while a minor fraction has been quaternized with 3-(1-pyrenyl)-1-bromopropane in order to attach a pyrene unit at both ends of the chain. Results discussed emphasize that excimer fluorescence is a very well-suited technique to discriminate intramolecular from intermolecular associations of the ionic end groups of telechelic polymers.