We demonstrated the synthesis of fluorescent network polymers through Knoevenagel polycondensation of an (tris(p-formylphenyl)amine) with a phenylenediacetonitrile. The structure based on the electron-donor triphenylamine and electron-acceptor cyano-substituted phenylene-vinylene showed a highly efficient solid-state fluorescence. The model molecule showed a well-defined solvatofluorochromism. Surprisingly, the network polymer linked with para-phenylene-vinylene was only responsive to the solvents with a low dielectric constant and nitrobenzene. The network polymer linked with meta-phenylene-vinylene was responsive to the aromatic solvents only. The characteristic chemoselectivity was observed by the geometric effect of the network structure.
- Shotaro Hayashi
- Shin-ichi Yamamoto
- Toshio Koizumi
