Multiresponsive Spiropyran-Based Copolymers Synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Multiresponsive spiropyran-based random copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymers were prepared by the copolymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with the photochromic monomer 1′,3′,3′-trimethyl-6-methacryloyloxyspiro(2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-indoline) (SP). The solvatochromic, pH, temperature, and light responsive behavior of the PDMAEMA-co-PSP polymers in solution was monitored by UV/vis spectroscopy. The copolymers exhibited “reverse photochromism” and stabilized the planar zwitterionic form of the chromophore, leading to “negative solvatochromism” upon increasing the polarity of the solvent, in contrast to a poly(methyl methacrylate)-co-PSP analogue which stabilized a nonpolar photoisomer and exhibited negligible sensitivity to the polarity of the surrounding medium, before irradiation. Moreover, the PDMAEMA-co-PSP copolymers exhibited a reversible pH-responsive character in aqueous media; the addition of a strong acid induced the SP-to-merocya...