Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Luminescent Phenothiazinyl Merocyanine Substituted Polyacetylenes.

A new generation of soluble phenothiazinyl merocyanine substituted polyacetylenes can be readily synthesized by rhodium-catalyzed polymerization of the corresponding 3-ethynyl phenothiazines, accessible by Sonogashira coupling and Knoevenagel condensation. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy of 7-acceptor-substituted phenothiazinyl polyacetylenes reveal that these polyacetylenes with conjugatively ligated merocyanines are luminescent in solution with positive emission solvatochromism and, in some cases, with distinct solid-state luminescence.