Synthesis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer properties of an alternating donor - Acceptor copolymer featuring orthogonally arrayed transition dipoles along the polymer backbone

We have synthesized a new entity of polymer structures composed of π-conjugated molecules: alternating donor - acceptor (D-A) copolymers featuring orthogonally arrayed transition dipoles along the polymer backbone. Such a unique structure could lead to novel functional fluorescent materials; therefore, we examined fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties of the D-A copolymers using absorption, fluorescence, and fluorescence lifetime measurements based on the principle of FRET. The results suggested that the orthogonal and alternating D-A copolymer could potentially lead to a new FRET system in which the efficiency is sensitive to the polymer conformation. (Chemical Equation Presented).