Synthesis and Characterization of Polynorbornenes with Nitronaphthyl Side‐Chains

Three new norbornene monomers carrying naphthyl-based sidechains with varying levels of electron deficiency are synthesized, characterized by ¹H NMR, 2D-NMR, UV-vis, and fluorescence spectroscopies, as well as mass spectrometry. The kinetics of their ring-opening polymerization using a third-generation Grubbs catalyst are established, and the resulting polymers are characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, along with UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. These naphthalene-based polynorbornenes are shown to exhibit fluorescence, accompanied by a quenching behavior when exposed to an electron-rich aromatic compound.