Promising CO2 Capture and Effective Iodine Adsorption of Hyper-Cross-Linked Conjugated Porous Organic Polymers Prepared from a Cyclopentannulation Reaction

Three novel conjugated porous organic polymers, denoted as C-POP1-3 and which consist of alternating pyrene cores with various contorted fluorene surrogates, were successfully synthesized from a versatile one-pot palladium-catalyzed [3+2] cyclocondensation reaction. The resulting polymers were obtained in excellent yields and displayed weight-average molecular weights (Mw) ranging from 12.2 to 20.2 kg/mol with polydispersity indices (Mw/Mn) ranging between 1.8 and 2.4, suggesting that the molecular masses are narrowly distributed and thus implying homogeneous polymer chains. Thermal stability exploration of C-POP1-3 by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed an impressive robustness with a 10% weight reduction temperature attaining 485 °C. Investigation of the inherent microporosity properties of C-POP1-3 via nitrogen adsorption experiments using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory discloses their surface areas which reach up to 560 m2 g-1 and pore volumes averaging 0.47 cm3 g-1. The target conjugated polymers were explored as adsorbents disclosing a maximum carbon dioxide adsorption of 83.0 mg g-1 at 273 K and low pressure for C-POP1, whereas iodine sorption tests portrayed prominent outcomes, notably for C-POP3 which proved to owe a strong affinity toward the hitherto mentioned halogen by achieving a maximum adsorption of 2220 mg g-1. Additionally, recyclability experiments confirmed the possibility to regenerate the polymers' adsorption capabilities even after seven consecutive cycles of adsorption-desorption cycles, which qualify them as auspicious iodine adsorbents.

The paradigm for exceptional iodine capture by nonporous amorphous electron-deficient cyclophanes

Nuclear power emerges as a beacon of hope in tackling the energy crisis. However, the emission of radioactive iodine originating from nuclear waste and accidents poses a serious danger to nature and human well-being. Therefore, it becomes imperative to urgently develop suitable adsorbents capable of iodine capture and long-term storage. It's generally recognized that achieving high iodine capture efficiency necessitates the presence of electron-rich pores/cavities that facilitate charge-transfer (CT) interactions, as well as effective sorption sites capable of engaging in lone pair interactions with iodine. In this study, an unprecedented iodine capture paradigm by nonporous amorphous electron-deficient tetracationic cycloalkanes in vapor and aqueous solutions is revealed, overturning preconceived notions of iodine trapping materials. A newly reported tetracationic cyclophane, BPy-Box4+, exhibited an exceptional iodine vapor sorption capacity of 3.99 g g-1, remarkable iodine removal efficiency in aqueous media, and outstanding reusability. The iodine capture mechanism is unambiguously elucidated by theoretical calculations and the single-crystal structures of cyclophanes with a gradual increase in iodine content, underlining the vital role of host-guest (1:1 or 1:2) interactions for the enhanced iodine capture. The current study demonstrates a new paradigm for enhanced iodine capture by nonporous amorphous electron-deficient cyclophanes through host-guest complexation.

Efficient Iodine Uptake of Ultra Thermally Stable Conjugated Copolymers Bearing Biaceanthrylenyl Moieties and Contorted Aromatic Units Using a [3 + 2] Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclopolymerization Reaction

A novel series of copolymers made from alternating aromatic surrogates with contorted and spiro compounds, denoted as BCP1-3, was successfully synthesized employing a palladium-catalyzed one-pot [3 + 2] cyclopentannulation reaction. The resulting copolymers BCP1-3, which were isolated in high yields, exhibited weight-average molecular weights (Mw) ranging from 11.0 to 61.5 kg mol-1 (kDa) and polydispersity index (Mw/Mn) values in the range of 1.7 and 2.0, which suggest a narrow molecular weight distribution, thus indicating the formation of uniform copolymer chains. Investigation of the thermal properties of BCP1-3 by thermogravimetric analysis disclosed outstanding stability with 10% weight loss temperature values reaching 800 °C. Iodine adsorption tests revealed remarkable results, particularly for BCP2, which demonstrated a strong affinity toward iodine reaching an uptake of 2900 mg g-1. Additionally, recyclability tests showcased the effective regeneration of BCP2 after several successive iodine adsorption-desorption cycles.

Iodine and Nickel Ions Adsorption by Conjugated Copolymers Bearing Repeating Units of Dicyclopentapyrenyl and Various Thiophene Derivatives

The synthesis of three conjugated copolymers TPP1-3 was carried out using a palladium-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition polymerization of 1,6-dibromopyrene with various dialkynyl thiophene derivatives 3a-c. The target copolymers were obtained in excellent yields and high purity, as confirmed by instrumental analyses. TPP1-3 were found to divulge a conspicuous iodine adsorption capacity up to 3900 mg g-1, whereas the adsorption mechanism studies revealed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, recyclability tests of TPP3, the copolymer which revealed the maximum iodine uptake, disclosed its efficient regeneration even after numerous adsorption-desorption cycles. Interestingly, the target copolymers proved promising nickel ions capture efficiencies from water with a maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) of 48.5 mg g-1.

Efficient Removal of Carcinogenic Azo Dyes from Water Using Iron(II) Clathrochelate Derived Metalorganic Copolymers Made from a Copper-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Cyclobenzannulation Reaction

A novel synthetic strategy is disclosed to prepare a new class of metalorganic copolymers that contain iron(II) clathrochelate building blocks by employing a mild and cost-effective copper-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclobenzannulation reaction, using three specially designed diethynyl iron(II) clathrochelate synthons. The target copolymers CBP1-3 were isolated in high purity and excellent yields as proven by their structural and photophysical characterization, namely, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-VIS absorption and emission spectroscopies. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of CBP1-3 revealed an excellent chemical stability. Investigation of the adsorption properties of the target copolymers towards the carcinogenic methyl red dye from aqueous solution revealed a quantitative uptake in 30 min. Isothermal adsorption studies disclosed that methyl red uptake from aqueous solution followed the Langmuir model for all of the target copolymers, reaching a maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) of 431 mg g^-. Kinetic investigation revealed that the adsorption followed pseudo-first-order with an equilibrium adsorption capacity (q_e,cal) of 79.35 mg g^- and whose sorption property was sustained even after its reuse several times.

High Uptake of the Carcinogenic Pararosaniline Hydrochloride Dye from Water Using Carbazole-Containing Conjugated Copolymers Synthesized from a One-Pot Cyclopentannulation Reaction

Three conjugated copolymers CAP1-3 were synthesized in one-step via a typical [3+2] cyclopentannulation reaction using a specially designed diethynyl carbazole synthon with various dibrominated polycondensed aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The desired copolymers CAP1-3 were obtained in excellent yields, and their structures were confirmed by ¹H- and ¹³C- nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR), whereas gel permeation chromatography revealed weight-average molar masses (M_w) up to 19.9 kDa with a polydispersity index (PDI) in the range of 2.2-2.6. Interestingly, CAP1-3 exhibits an outstanding capacity to adsorb the carcinogenic pararosaniline hydrochloride dye (Basic Red 9, BR9) from aqueous solutions. Isothermal adsorption studies were carried out following the linear models of Langmuir and Freundlich, divulging an adsorption capacity maximum (q_m) toward BR9 of 483.09 mg g^-1. Investigation of the dye uptake mechanism on CAP1-3 revealed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model for the target copolymer that showed the highest uptake capacity. Recyclability tests disclosed an excellent adsorption efficiency of BR 9 reaching 93% after six cycles.

Aggregation-Induced Emission of Contorted Polycondensed Aromatic Hydrocarbons Made by Edge Extension Using a Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclopentannulation Reaction

Contorted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), CPA1-2 and CPB1-2, bearing peripheral five-membered rings were synthesized employing a palladium-catalyzed cyclopentannulation reaction using specially designed diaryl acetylene synthons TPE and TPEN with commercially available dibromo- anthracene DBA and bianthracene DBBA derivatives. The resulting target compounds CPA1-2 and CPB1-2 were isolated in excellent yield and found to be highly soluble in common organic solvents, which allowed for their structural characterization and investigation of the photophysical properties, disclosing their aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties in THF at selective concentration ranges of water fractions in the solvent mixture. Examination of the contorted PAH structures by means of density functional theory (DFT) revealed higher electronic conjugation in the more rigid and planar anthracene-containing CPA1-2 derivatives when compared to the twisted bianthracene-bearing moieties CBPA1-2 with HOMO-LUMO bandgaps (ΔE) of ∼2.32 eV for the former PAHs and ∼2.78 eV for the latter ones.

Synthesis of Iron(II) Clathrochelate-Based Poly(vinylene sulfide) with Tetraphenylbenzene Bridging Units and Their Selective Oxidation into Their Corresponding Poly(vinylene sulfone) Copolymers: Promising Materials for Iodine Capture

The development of a simple and efficient synthetic methodology to engineer functional polymer materials for gas adsorption is necessary due to its relevance for various applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of metalorganic poly(vinylene sulfide) copolymers CTP1-3 with iron(II) clathrochelate of various side groups connected by tetraphenylbenzene units. CTP1-3 were subsequently oxidized into their respective poly(vinylene sulfone) copolymers CTP4-6 under green reaction conditions. The target copolymers CTP1-6 were characterized using various instrumental analysis techniques. Examination of the iodine adsorption properties of the copolymers revealed high iodine uptake properties, reaching 2360 mg g−1 for CTP2, and whose reusability tests proved its efficient regeneration, thus proving the importance of iron(II) clathrochelate polymers in iodine capture.

Synthesis of Metalorganic Copolymers Containing Various Contorted Units and Iron(II) Clathrochelates with Lateral Butyl Chains: Conspicuous Adsorbents of Lithium Ions and Methylene Blue

We report the synthesis of three highly soluble metalorganic copolymers, TCP1-3, that were made from a one-pot complexation of iron(II) clathrochelate units that are interconnected by various thioether-containing contorted groups. TCP1-3 were converted into their poly(vinyl sulfone) derivatives OTCP1-3 quantitatively via the selective oxidation of the thioether moieties into their respective sulfones. All of the copolymers, TCP1-3 and OTCP1-3, underwent structural analysis by various techniques; namely, ¹H- and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The copolymers were tested as potent lithium ions adsorbents revealing a maximum adsorption (q_m) value of 2.31 mg g^-1 for OTCP2. Furthermore, this same copolymer was found to be a promising adsorbent of methylene blue (MEB); an isothermal adsorption study divulged that OTCP2's uptake of MEB from an aqueous solution (following the Langmuir model) was, at maximum adsorption capacity, (q_m) of 480.77 mg g^-1; whereas the kinetic study divulged that the adsorption follows pseudo second-order kinetics with an equilibrium adsorption capacity (q_e,cal) of 45.40 mg g^-1.

Bifunctional conjugated microporous polymer based filters for highly efficient PM and gaseous iodine capture

Cross-linked conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) based air filters obtained by a one-step cross-coupling reaction for effective capture of particulate matter and gaseous iodine from dusty air.

Easy Fabrication of Amorphous Covalent Organic Nanospheres Using Schiff-Base Chemistry for Iodine Capture

Designing a strategy for easy fabrication of amorphous porous organic polymers (POPs) with regularly nanospherical structure using common chemical raw materials is highly imperative to promote the practical application for iodine capture. Uniform covalent organic nanospheres (CONs), defined as CON-TT, were easily prepared at room temperature via a Schiff base condensation reaction of tri(4-aminophenyl) methane (TAPM) and terephthalaldehyde (TPA) catalyzed by acetic acid. The obtained CON-TT exhibits a uniform nanospherical shape, high specific surface area, effective imine sorption sites and abundant benzene rings. An excellent reversible iodine adsorption capacity of 4.80 g g^-1 is achieved, which can be attributed to the hybrid of physisorption and chemisorption process. We anticipate that this work can provide general guidance for the industrial large-scale preparation of other CONs for iodine capture.

Selective removal of toxic organic dyes using Trӧger base-containing sulfone copolymers made from a metal-free thiol-yne click reaction followed by oxidation

Three copolymers TCP1–3 bearing Trӧger's base (TB) units intercalated with various thioether groups were synthesized using a catalyst-free thiol-yne click reaction. TCP1–3 display excellent solubility in common organic solvents allowing for their structural, and photophysical characterization. The thioether groups in TCP1–3 were selectively oxidized into their respective sulfone derivatives under mild oxidation reaction conditions affording the postmodified copolymers TCP4–6. Investigation of organic dye uptake from water by TCP1–6 proved their efficiency as selective adsorbents removing up to 100% of the cationic dye methylene blue (MEB) when compared to anionic dyes, such as Congo red (CR), methyl orange (MO) and methyl blue (MB). The sulfone-containing copolymers TCP4–6 display superior and faster MEB removal efficiencies with respect to their corresponding synthons TCP1–3.

Copolymers TCP1–3 with Trӧger's base units and aryl thioether groups were made via a click reaction. Selective oxidation of the thioethers into sulfone groups afforded TCP4–6 which display up to 100% removal efficiency of methylene blue from water.

Fluorinated Iron(ii) clathrochelate units in metalorganic based copolymers: improved porosity, iodine uptake, and dye adsorption properties

We report the synthesis of metalorganic copolymers made from the palladium catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction between various iron(ii) clathrochelate building blocks with diethynyl-triptycene and fluorene derivatives. The target copolymers CCP1-5 were isolated in excellent yield and characterized by various instrumental analysis techniques. Interestingly, investigation of the copolymers' porosity properties discloses BET surface areas up to 337 m2 g-1 for the target compounds bearing fluorinated iron(ii) clathrochelate units CCP2,5. Moreover, the fluorinated copolymers display an outstanding uptake capacity of iodine with a maximum adsorption of 200 wt%. The target metalorganic copolymers CCP1-5 reveal very good adsorption of organic dyes, namely, methyl blue and methylene blue, from aqueous media.