LUMINESCENCE STUDIES OF POLYELECTROLYTE BEHAVIOR IN SOLUTION .1. ACCESSIBILITY OF NAPHTHALENE-BASED LABELS OF POLY(METHACRYLIC ACID) TO MOBILE LOW MOLAR MASS SPECIES IN AQUEOUS-MEDIA

A novel approach to the study of the conformational behaviour of water-soluble polymers is reported. The method is based upon the generation of stabilized, room temperature phosphorescence using mobile ''heavy-atom'' promoters (Tl+). The conjunct roles of phosphorescence intensity and lifetime data in providing information upon polyelectrolyte behaviour is illustrated, using samples of poly(methacrylic acid) labelled with l-vinylnaphthalene or acenaphthylene as luminescent labels. The resultant data are compared with those obtained using more conventional fluorescence methodologies.