Fluorinated Porous Organic Polymers via Direct C–H Arylation Polycondensation

Abstract

Considering the high reactivity of the C–H bonds in fluorobenzenes for direct arylation and special properties of fluorinated polymers, herein, synthesis of fluorinated porous organic polymers via direct C–H arylation polycondensation is explored. The obtained polymers (FPOP-1 and FPOP-2) are well characterized and show high porosities with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of above 1000 m² g^–1. Different pore size distribution (PSD) profiles of porous polymers can be obtained by selecting different core constructing monomers. FPOP-2 exhibits a relatively narrower PSD with the dominant pore size at about 0.63 nm, which is more suitable for adsorption of small gas molecules (H₂, CO₂, and CH₄) than FPOP-1. As a porous fluorinated hydrophobic material, FPOP-2 possesses high adsorption ability for toluene (976 mg g^–1 at saturated vapor pressure and room temperature) due to its high porosities and binding affinities between the guest molecules and the host network. The good sorption capacity of FPOP-2 for toluene makes it show potential applications in elimination of harmful small aromatic molecules in the environment.