Aggregation-induced luminescence of polyisobutene succinic anhydrides and Imides

PIB derivatives such as PIBSAs and the corresponding PIBSIs characterized by different contents of functional groups were prepared. They showed luminescence both in their neat form and in heptane solution when the amount of functional groups per polymer chain was higher than a critical value. This behavior is attributed to aggregation-induced emission, a phenomenon caused by the aggregation of non-emissive chromophoric carbonyl groups present on PIB derivatives. AIE was studied in heptane solution as a function of the type (SAs or succinimides) and number of interacting functional groups. The results suggest that fluorescence measurements might be an effective tool to determine the degree of functionalization of PIB derivatives.