Naphthalene Tetrazole-Based Nickel Metal-Organic Framework as a Filler of Polycarbonate Membranes to Improve CO2 and H2 Separation

A tetrazole-naphthalene linker was used to prepare a nickel MOF (metal-organic framework) (NiNDTz) with interesting properties: a specific surface area SBET of 320 m2g-1 (SLangmuir 436 m2g-1), high thermal stability (Tdonset = 300 °C), and CO2 uptake of 1.85 mmolg-1, attributed to the tetrazole groups to be used as fillers in gas separation membranes. The role of these groups was crucial in the mechanical properties of mixed membranes prepared using polycarbonate as a polymer matrix, providing a very homogeneous filler distribution and also in the gas separation properties since a simultaneous increase in permeability and selectivity was achieved, especially in the hybrid membrane containing 20% filler (PC@NiNDTz-20%). This membrane exhibited an excellent balance between permeability (P) and selectivity (α) with an increase in the permeability of CO2 and H2, 177 and 185%, respectively, and improvements in the selectivity of these gases against greenhouse gases such as methane and ethylene (between 15 and 28% improvement). These results make this membrane competitive to deal with separations in which these gases are involved, and are of special interest for the H2/CH4 separation since it clearly improves the performance of pure PC and no better PC-based membranes have been reported in the literature for this separation.

Hyper-Cross-Linked Porous Polymer Featuring B-N Covalent Bonds (HCP-BNs): A Stable and Efficient Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalyst

The first example of a porous polymer containing B-N covalent bonds, prepared from a tetraphene B-N monomer and biphenyl as a comonomer, is reported. It was prepared using the solvent knitting strategy, which allows the connection between the aromatic rings of the two monomers through methylene groups provided by an external cross-linking agent. The new polymer exhibited micromeso porosity with an S_BET of 612 m²/g, high thermal stability, and potential properties as a heterogeneous photocatalyst, since it is very active in the aza-Henry coupling reaction (>98% of conversion and selectivity). After the first run, the catalyst improves its photocatalytic activity, shortening the reaction time to only 2 h and maintaining this activity in successive runs. The presence of a radical in this structure that remains stable with successive runs makes it a new type of material with potential applications as a highly stable and efficient photocatalyst.

Conversion of CO2 into Chloropropene Carbonate Catalyzed by Iron (II) Phthalocyanine Hypercrosslinked Porous Organic Polymer

Commercial iron (II) phthalocyanine (FePc) was knitted with biphenyl using a Friedel-Crafts reaction to yield a micro-meso porous organic polymer (FePc-POP) with a specific surface area of 427 m²/g and 5.42% of iron loading. This strategy allowed for the direct synthesis of a heterogeneous catalyst from an iron containing monomer. The catalytic system, formed by the knitted polymer containing FePc and DMAP (4-dimethylamino pyridine) as base, results in an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epichlorohydrin to selectively obtain the corresponding cyclic carbonate. Thus, a TON (mmol substrate converted/mmol catalysts used) value of 2700 was reached in 3 h under mild reaction conditions (solvent free, 90 °C, 3 bar of CO₂). The catalyst does not exhibit leaching during the reactions, which was attributed to the excellent stability of the metal in the macrocycle.

Iron Phthalocyanine-Knitted Polymers as Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Knitted iron phthalocyanine-based porous polymer networks (K-FePcs) were prepared in a single step using solvent-knitting strategies with commercial iron phthalocyanine as a building monomer. The incorporation of different aryl comonomers (biphenyl and 1,2,4,5-tetraphenylbenzene) to FePc allowed quantitative yields, high porosities, and excellent ORR activity. The reversible Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox potential of FeN₄ centers of the knitted polymer networks in N₂-saturated electrolyte solution (i.e., ∼0.8 V vs RHE) were shown as good descriptors of their ORR activity. K-FePc2Ph presented the highest amount of FeN4 active sites and an adequate degree of steric hindrance to maintain the isolation between catalytically active sites. Moreover, it displayed comparable current density limits and superior mass activity and half-wave potential (i.e., 0.88 V vs RHE) than those of 20% Pt/C benchmark catalyst, while keeping higher stability toward methanol oxidation. K-FePc2Ph can be an interesting alternative to Pt-based ORR electrocatalysts.

Study of the versatility of CuBTC@IL-derived materials for heterogeneous catalysis

The versatility of CuBTC (HKUST-1) MOF materials to be functionalized to improve their catalytic activity performance was evaluated. CuBTC@IL catalysts are selective for the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides, giving rise to value-added products.

A step forward in solvent knitting strategies: ruthenium and gold phosphine complex polymerization results in effective heterogenized catalysts

A knitting strategy has been applied to obtain metal–phosphine porous organic polymers (Kphos(M)), resulting in effective heterogenized catalysts for different reactions.

Truxene-based porous polymers: from synthesis to catalytic activity

New, robust, insoluble porous organic polymers based on the semiconducting platform of hexamethyltruxene with high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface areas and interesting catalytic activity are presented.

Silylated oligomeric poly(ether-azomethine)s from monomers containing biphenyl moieties: synthesis and characterization

In this study, four new silicon-containing poly(ether-azomethine)s with linear structures were prepared using original silicon and biphenyl moiety-containing monomers: two diamines and two dialdehydes. The oligomeric natures of the samples were established by GPC analysis, which showed chains containing 3 to 5 repetitive units. The monomers and the oligomeric samples were structurally characterized by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The solubilities of the samples in common organic solvents and their thermal behavior enable improvement of their industrial and technological processability. The optical band gaps of the oligomeric samples were estimated from optical measurements (UV-vis), and their electrical behavior in films was determined using the four-point method. The surface arrangements and morphological characteristics of the films were determined via atomic force microscopy measurements. The roughness, area increase percentage and layer stiffness of the films were also measured using this technique.

In this study, four new silicon-containing poly(ether-azomethine)s with linear structures were prepared using original silicon and biphenyl moiety-containing monomers: two diamines and two dialdehydes.

Novel aromatic polyimides derived from 2,8-di(3-aminophenyl)dibenzofuran. Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of properties

Three aromatic polyimides (PIs) were prepared from a new aromatic diamine monomer derived from the rigid ring dibenzofuran.

Syntheses, characterization and properties of soluble and liquid phenanthralocyanines

Phenanthralocyanine compounds with cumylphenoxy, nonylphenoxy and oligodimethylsiloxane phenoxy peripheral substitution were synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction between 3,6-difluoro-9,10-dicyanophenanthrene and the corresponding phenolic precursor. Structural characterization includes IR, NMR, UV-vis and mass spectroscopies. The nonylphenoxy and oligodimethylsiloxane phenoxy phenanthralocyanines were soluble in common organic solvents, and the siloxane product was an isotropic liquid. Compared with the phthalocyanine analog, the Q bands of the Pb , H 2 and Cu phenanthralocyanine were slightly red shifted and variably broadened (small for the Pb compound but large for the H 2 and Cu compounds). The nominal red shift is a consequence of an angular annelation of the benzene rings to the phthalocyanine system. Aggregation was not detected in toluene solution, and the Q band broadening was attributed to a distortion of the tetraazaporphyrin ring to a nonplanar conformation. The siloxane substituted lead phenanthralocyanine neat liquid was evaluated as an optical limiter material. As a neat film a substantial broadening and weakening of the Q band results in a broad visible transmission window and a relatively neutral light olive hue. Upon excitation, there is a rapid decay of the initially excited state so the initial optical limiting is predominately due to a thermorefractive effect rather than a nonlinear absorption.