Incorporation of terpyridine into the side chain of copolymers to create multi-functional materials

Polymer architectures containing metal–ligands in their side chain represent a diverse approach to generating multi-functional materials. The ability to define a versatile synthetic platform will enable many chemistries and architectures to be studied. This report describes our latest efforts to prepare these unique polymers by either a direct polymerization of functionalized monomers or a post-polymerization attachment. Random and block copolymers have been successfully prepared. Subsequent functionalization with metal ions leads to a variety of properties including metal induced gelation and solvochromic sensors.