Alkali cation binding of polymers with different sized crown ethers and photodimerizable units

The polymers which have different sized crown ethers as alkali cation binding sites and photodimerizable cinnamoyl units were prepared by the cationic copolymerization of corresponding monomers. The crown–cation complexation ratio (1:1 or 2:1) was investigated by measuring quantum yields ? of the photodimerization of the crown-connected cinnamoyl units in the presence of alkali metal chlorides and also by measuring the shift of λ_max of alkali metal picrates in THF on addition of the crown polymers. A significant 1:2 complex formation of alkali cations with two different sized crown ether units in the side chain of the polymers was confirmed. The alkali metal cation binding ability and selectivity of the polymers, which were studied by a method of picrate salts extraction, were markedly different from those expected from the combination of polymers of same ring-size crown ether units. When irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light, the cinnamic acid ester groups of the polymers caused dimerization even in dilute solutions. The cation binding ability of the polymers was largely enhanced by the photodimerization of the cinnamoyl moieties with suitable template cations.