Poly(ε-caprolactone) macroligands with β-diketonate binding sites: synthesis and coordination chemistry

Dibenzoylmethane (dbm) initiators with one and two alcohol sites were used to generate dbm end-functionalized and dbm-centered poly(ε-caprolactone) macroligands (dbmPCL and dbmPCL2) with low polydispersities (∼1.1). Chelation of polymeric ligands to metal ions (Eu3+, Fe3+, Ni2+ and Cu2+) produced metal-centered star polymers, which were characterized by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as gel permeation chromatography.