Preparation and chemiluminescent properties of perylene-containing polyimides as polymeric red fluorophores

New polyimides containing perylene chromophore were synthesized by imidization reaction of 1,6,7,12-tetrakis(4-tert-butylphenoxy)-3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxydianhydride with various alkylenic diamines such as 2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecan-3,9-dipropylamine, polytetrahydrofuran bis(3-aminopropyl) terminate and poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropylether). The polyimides were characterized by IR, NMR, DSC, UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopy. All polymers showed an enhanced solubility in common organic solvents such as THF, dibutylphthalate, chloroform and acetone. Chemiluminescent reactions involving hydrogen peroxide and bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate were observed using tetramethyl ammonium salicylate catalyst. The polymeric fluorophores exhibited a strong chemiluminescent red light emission around 620 nm; these are similar to the photoluminescent spectra. The chemiluminescent intensity decayed exponentially, but the glow was maintained more than 24 h and was visible with naked eye.