In Situ Cavitation of Phenolic Supramolecules with PEO–PPO–PEO Block Copolymers by Friedel–Crafts Alkylation toward Ordered Nanoporous Polymers

Abstract

The release of hydrogen halides in Friedel–Crafts alkylation has long been considered as troublesome and detrimental. Here we demonstrate that the released HCl in alkylation is beneficial and highly demanded to remove poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) templates from the phenolic supramolecules for the preparation of ordered nanoporous phenolic polymers as additional treatment for template removal is no longer necessary. Friedel–Crafts alkylation using bifunctional alkylation agent, 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene, leads to the hyper-cross-linking of phenolic polymers, thus generating micropores in the skeleton of the polymers. HCl in situ generated as the byproduct during alkylation facilely extracts the copolymer because of its enhanced diffusion through the micropores. The prepared phenolic polymers exhibit high surface areas and well-ordered porosities in a hexagonal or gyriodal structure. The in situ cavitation by alkylation takes place at much milder conditions and has ...