Unexploited Design and Application of Dynamic Covalent Networks: Phenol-yne Click Reaction and Porous Film Generation

Abstract

Dynamic covalent networks (DCNs) have attracted great attention because of their capacity for reprocessing and remolding, based on macromolecular architecture transformations or rearrangements through dynamic exchange reactions. Here, a new dynamic exchange reaction between a phenol and an enol-one motif yielded from the phenol-yne click reaction is introduced, and the phenol-yne click reaction is facilely integrated into the fabrication of a novel DCN. To expand the scope of material recycling, another degradable DCN prepared using the same click reaction but with a degradable diacetal motif is introduced. After thermal fusion of these two DCNs and subsequent acidic hydrolysis, a porous polymer film with a porosity of 46% is afforded, which is verified to possess excellent oil absorption capacity and recyclability. The strategic design and fabrication of porous polymer films provide an entirely new pathway for the application of DCNs.