Synthesis and intrinsic blue fluorescence study of hyperbranched poly(ester-amide-ether)

A series of hyperbranched poly(ester-amide-ether)s (H-PEAEs) were synthesized via the A₂+CB₃ approach by the self-transesterification of ethyl ester-amide-ethers end-capped with three hydroxyl groups and ethyl ester group at two terminals. The molecular structures were characterized with ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The number average molecular weights were estimated by GPC analysis to possess bimodal wide distribution from 1.57 to 2.09. The strong inherent blue fluorescence was observed at 330 nm for excitation and 390 nm for emission. Moreover, the emission intensity and fluorescence quantum yield increased along with the incorporated ether chain length, as well as almost linearly with the H-PEAE concentration in an aqueous solution. For comparing the fluorescence performance, the linear poly(ester-amide-ether) (L-PEAE) and hyperbranched poly(ester-amide) (H-PEA) were synthesized. The results showed that the coexistence of ether bond and carboxyl group in the molecular chain was essential for generating the strong fluorescence. However, the compact backbone of H-PEAE would be propitious to the enhancement of fluorescence properties.