Photophysical properties of novel ferrocenyl quinoline derivatives with red emission in solutions and polymeric matrices

A group of novel 2-ferrocenyl quinoline derivatives was designed and their photophysical properties were thoroughly studied. UV-VIS and steady-state fluorescence spectra show that these compounds gain energy in the ultra-violet region and give red emissions in different organic solvents. More importantly, two transparent hybrid thick films composed of 2-ferrocenyl quinoline and poly[1-(methoxycarbonyl)-1-methylethylene] (poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate, (poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA), or poly[2-hydroxyethyl 2-methylprop-2-enoate] (poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), PHEMA) matrix were successfully prepared. Both films showed red emissions of ferrocenyl quinoline chromophore and the ideal composition of luminescent species is 10⁻⁶ M PMMA and 10⁻⁵ M PHEMA, respectively. SEM graph exhibited ferrocenyl quinoline molecules dispersed very homogenously within the above polymer hosts.