Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorescent, Nonionic, Water Self-Dispersible Oligothiophenes

Two -septithiophenes substituted at the third position of the middle ring with polyethyleneglycol of different molecular weights (PEG 1000 and PEG 2000) were synthesized using Suzuki condensation. Their structural characterization was performed by H-1 NMR and FT-IR. The thermal behavior of the new synthesized oligothiophenes was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetrical (TGA) analysis. Photophysical properties in solutions were evaluated by UV-vis and fluorescence measurements using different solvents. The amphiphilic nature of the synthesized oligothiophenes and the presence of the PEG side chains induced self-dispersibility in water and the possibility of fluorescent nanoparticles forming by self-assembling. The size of nanoparticles in water was assessed by DLS and AFM investigations.