Fluorescent polymers of 7-hydroxycoumarin compounds, chemical sensors comprising them, and polymerizable fluorescent compound of 7-hydroxycoumarin

Abstract

A polymer is obtained by polymerization of a polymerizable fluorescent monomer compound of 7-hydroxycoumarin having the following formula (I): G is a substituent including a polymerizable chemical group R, and optionally of at least one other polymerizable monomer. The polymer can be used as a sensitive material in an optical sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymer which is obtained by polymerization of a polymerizable fluorescent monomer compound of 7-hydroxycoumarin having the following formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein G is a substituent comprising a polymerizable chemical group R;
 and optionally of at least one other polymerizable monomer. 
 
       
     
     
         2 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable chemical group R of the compound of formula (I) is selected from groups comprising an ethylenically unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond; groups allowing condensation reactions; and groups allowing organometallic or oxidant coupling reactions. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable chemical group R of the compound of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of vinylic, styrenic, dienic, acrylic and methacrylic groups. 
     
     
         4 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the other copolymerizable monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic monomers, styrenic monomers and vinylic monomers. 
     
     
         5 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , which is a homopolymer obtained by polymerization of a fluorescent monomer compound of formula (I). 
     
     
         6 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , which is a random, alternating or block copolymer obtained by polymerization of at least one fluorescent monomeric compound of formula (I) and of at least one other copolymerizable monomer. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , which is a copolymer obtained by copolymerization of umbelliferone-4-ethyl acetate-2-methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and divinylbenzene. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer according to  claim 7 , wherein said copolymer is a random copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , which appears in the form of spheres. 
     
     
         10 . The polymer according to  claim 9 , wherein said spheres are microspheres with a diameter from 0.1 to 500 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer according to  claim 9 , wherein said spheres are microspheres with a diameter from 0.1 to 200 μm. 
     
     
         12 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , which appears in the form of a thin film deposited on at least one surface of a substrate, or of a thick film. 
     
     
         13 . A sensor comprising the polymer according to  claim 1  as a sensitive material. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor according to  claim 13 , which is an optical sensor, the operation of which is based on measurement of a variation of an intensity of fluorescence emitted by the polymer. 
     
     
         15 . A method of detecting and/or assaying one or several target compound(s) and/or molecule(s) comprising:
 measuring a variation of an intensity of fluorescence emitted by the polymer in the sensor of  claim 13  when the sensor is exposed to said one or several target compound(s) and/or molecule(s).   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said target compound(s) is(are) in the vapor phase, in a gaseous form. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the target compound(s) is(are) selected from the group consisting of nitrated compounds and organophosphorus compounds. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the method is for detecting and/or assaying explosives or toxic, compounds. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making fluorescent probes, for making biological markers, for making fluorescent, photoluminescent, and/or radioluminescent and/or cathodoluminescent materials, comprising:
 providing the polymer of  claim 1  as an optical sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method is for detecting and/or assaying neurotoxic compounds.