Porphyrin-based donor–acceptor COFs as efficient and reusable photocatalysts for PET-RAFT polymerization under broad spectrum excitation

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline and porous organic materials attractive for photocatalysis applications due to their structural versatility and tunable optical and electronic properties. The use of photocatalysts (PCs) for polymerizations enables the preparation of well-defined polymeric materials under mild reaction conditions. Herein, we report two porphyrin-based donor–acceptor COFs that are effective heterogeneous PCs for photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT). Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we designed porphyrin COFs with strong donor–acceptor characteristics and delocalized conduction bands. The COFs were effective PCs for PET-RAFT, successfully polymerizing a variety of monomers in both organic and aqueous media using visible light (λ_max from 460 to 635 nm) to produce polymers with tunable molecular weights (MWs), low molecular weight dispersity, and good chain-end fidelity. The heterogeneous COF PCs could also be reused for PET-RAFT polymerization at least 5 times without losing photocatalytic performance. This work demonstrates porphyrin-based COFs that are effective catalysts for photo-RDRP and establishes design principles for the development of highly active COF PCs for a variety of applications.

Porphyrin-based donor–acceptor COFs are effective heterogeneous photocatalysts for photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT), including for aqueous polymerizations and under red-light excitation.     

Synthesis of ultra‐high molecular weight polymers by controlled production of initiating radicals

This study demonstrates that the gradual and slow production of initiating radicals (i.e., hydroxyl radicals here) is the key point for the synthesis of ultra‐high molecular weight (UHMW) polymers via controlled radical polymerization. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) react via Fenton redox chemistry to initiate RAFT polymerization. This work presents two enzymatic‐mediated (i.e., Bio‐Fenton‐RAFT and Semi Bio‐Fenton‐RAFT) and one syringe pump‐driven Fenton‐RAFT polymerization processes in which the initiating radicals are carefully and gradually dosed into the reaction solution. The “livingness” of the synthesized UHMW polymers is demonstrated by chain extension and aminolysis experiments. Zimm plots obtained from static light scattering (SLS) technique are used to characterize the UHMW polymers. This Fenton‐RAFT polymerization provides access to polymers of unprecedented UHMW (M_w ~ 20 × 10⁶ g mol^?1) with potential in diverse applications. The UHMW polymers made via the controlled Fenton‐RAFT polymerization by using a syringe pump shows that it is possible to produce such materials through an easy‐to‐set up and scalable process. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1922–1930     

Perylene as a visible light photoredox catalyst for photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization of MMA

Abstract

The organic photocatalyst, perylene, was used to mediate photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) of methyl methhacrylate (MMA) under light irradiation in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 25°C with 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPADB) as chain transfer agent (CTA). Kinetic studies confirmed that the polymerization obeyed the first order kinetic m'odel. The production of PMMAs with a good control of molecular weights (M_n,GPC) and narrow polymer molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) were obtained. It is found that well-controlled PET RAFT polymerization of MMA can be manipulated even with the amount of perylene decreasing to ppm level. No polymer was obtained in the absence of light irradiation, implying that the model of PET RAFT polymerization of MMA is an ideal light “on”-“off” switchable system. Furthermore, the speed of PET RAFT polymerization of MMA was also finely tunable by the external light irradiation intensity. The resultant PMMA macro-CTA was characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (¹H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The accessibility of the high end group fidelity was further demonstrated by chain extension experiments.     

Polymerization of styrene in alcohol/water mediated by a macro‐RAFT agent of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) trithiocarbonate: From homogeneous to heterogeneous RAFT polymerization

The reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene in alcohol/water mixture mediated with the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) trithiocarbonate macro‐RAFT agent (PNIPAM‐TTC) is studied and compared with the general RAFT dispersion polymerization in the presence of a small molecular RAFT agent. Both the homogeneous/quasi‐homogeneous polymerization before particle nucleation and the heterogeneous polymerization after particle nucleation are involved in the PNIPAM‐TTC‐mediated RAFT polymerization, and the two‐stage increase in the molecular weight (M_n) and nanoparticle size of the synthesized block copolymer is found. In the initial homogeneous/quasi‐homogeneous polymerization, the M_n and nanoparticle size slowly increase with monomer conversion, whereas the M_n and particle size quickly increase in the subsequent heterogeneous RAFT polymerization, which is much different from those in the general RAFT dispersion polymerization. Besides, the PNIPAM‐TTC‐mediated RAFT polymerization runs much faster than the general RAFT dispersion polymerization. This study is anticipated to be helpful to understand the polymer chain extension through RAFT polymerization under dispersion conditions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Visible Light Photoiniferter Polymerization for Dispersity Control in High Molecular Weight Polymers

The synthesis of polymers with high molecular weights, controlled sequence, and tunable dispersities remains a challenge. A simple and effective visible-light controlled photoiniferter reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is reported here to realize this goal. Key to this strategy is the use of switchable RAFT agents (SRAs) to tune polymerization activities coupled with the inherent highly living nature of photoiniferter RAFT polymerization. The polymerization activities of SRAs were in situ adjusted by the addition of acid. In addition to a switchable chain-transfer coefficient, photolysis and polymerization kinetic studies revealed that neutral and protonated SRAs showed different photolysis and polymerization rates, which is unique to photoiniferter RAFT polymerization in terms of dispersity control. This strategy features no catalyst, no exogenous radical source, temporal regulation by visible light, and tunable dispersities in the unprecedented high molecular weight regime (up to 500 kg mol⁻¹). Pentablock copolymers with three different dispersity combinations were also synthesized, highlighting that the highly living nature was maintained even for blocks with large dispersities. T_g was lowered for high-dispersity polymers of similar MWs due to the existence of more low-MW polymers. This strategy holds great potential for the synthesis of advanced materials with controlled molecular weight, dispersity and sequence.     

Phenothiazine-based covalent organic frameworks with low exciton binding energies for photocatalysis

Designing delocalized excitons with low binding energy (E_b) in organic semiconductors is urgently required for efficient photochemistry because the excitons in most organic materials are localized with a high E_b of >300 meV. In this work, we report the achievement of a low E_b of ∼50 meV by constructing phenothiazine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with inherent crystallinity, porosity, chemical robustness, and feasibility of bandgap engineering. The low E_b facilitates effective exciton dissociation and thus promotes photocatalysis by using these COFs. As a demonstration, we subject these COFs to photocatalytic polymerization to synthesize polymers with remarkably high molecular weight without any requirement of the metal catalyst. Our results can facilitate the rational design of porous materials with low E_b for efficient photocatalysis.

We report the construction of phenothiazine-based covalent organic frameworks, which exhibited diverse structures, the feasibility of bandgap engineering, and unprecedented ultralow exciton binding energy of ∼50 meV for photocatalytic polymerization.     

环境友好的可控自由基聚合*

近年来,我们以环境友好、简便快捷、活泼可控、单体普适性强的光活化室温RAFT聚合为主攻目标,针对长波紫外或可见光活化室温RAFT聚合反应特征及其应用展开了深入探讨。研究表明,作为RAFT聚合链转移剂的硫酯化合物具有分别在紫外光和可见光波段的双波段光吸收特征。短波紫外光强吸收,导致硫酯键的光解。然而,可见光波段弱的光吸收则活化其自由基加成产物的断裂反应,加速室温RAFT过程并确保聚合反应的活性特征。高效光引发,可显著缩短RAFT聚合引发期。通过光开关,可实时启动或终止聚合。与常规热聚合不同,室温以下这类聚合反应不存在明显的热活化效应。由此,我们创建了环境友好、单体普适性强、快速可控、通过光开关可实时控制聚合反应启动或终止的光活化室温RAFT聚合,将其成功拓展到太阳光和水溶液聚合体系,并运用于温和条件下新兴水溶性温敏高分子、仿生光响应高分子的快捷可控合成。     

Imine-based covalent organic framework as photocatalyst for visible-light-induced atom transfer radical polymerization

Photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is an economical and environment-friendly method for synthesizing polymers with pre-designable structures and precise molecular weight. Although significant progress for copper-mediated photoinduced ATRP has been achieved, several drawbacks still remain, such as poor electron transfer capability and absorption bands of photocatalysts near UV region. Herein, imine-based covalent organic framework, TAPPy-TPA-COF , has been synthesized as potential heterogeneous photocatalyst for photoinduced ATRP. The “living” feature of polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) can be well controlled by efficiency maintain the balance between activation and inactivation of Cu^I and Cu^II. The chain extension experiments have further demonstrated the chain-end fidelity of polymers. Meanwhile, the catalyst recycle experiments have revealed stability of TAPPy-TPA-COF toward ATRP processes. These results support the feasibility of using COFs as heterogeneous photocatalysts for copper-mediated ATRP under visible light irradiation.     

Light‐Regulated Polymerization under Near‐Infrared/Far‐Red Irradiation Catalyzed by Bacteriochlorophyll a

Photoregulated polymerizations are typically conducted using high‐energy (UV and blue) light, which may lead to undesired side reactions. Furthermore, as the penetration of visible light is rather limited, the range of applications with such wavelengths is likewise limited. We herein report the first living radical polymerization that can be activated and deactivated by irradiation with near‐infrared (NIR) and far‐red light. Bacteriochlorophyll a (Bachl a) was employed as a photoredox catalyst for photoinduced electron transfer/reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (PET‐RAFT) polymerization. Well‐defined polymers were thus synthesized within a few hours under NIR (λ=850 nm) and far‐red (λ=780 nm) irradiation with excellent control over the molecular weight (M_n/M_w<1.25). Taking advantage of the good penetration of NIR light, we showed that the polymerization also proceeded smoothly when a translucent barrier was placed between light source and reaction vessel.     

Rational Design and Application of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Solar Fuel Production

Harnessing solar energy and converting it into renewable fuels by chemical processes, such as water splitting and carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction, is a highly promising yet challenging strategy to mitigate the effects arising from the global energy crisis and serious environmental concerns. In recent years, covalent organic framework (COF)-based materials have gained substantial research interest because of their diversified architecture, tunable composition, large surface area, and high thermal and chemical stability. Their tunable band structure and significant light absorption with higher charge separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers make them suitable candidates for photocatalytic applications in hydrogen (H₂) generation, CO₂ conversion, and various organic transformation reactions. In this article, we describe the recent progress in the topology design and synthesis method of COF-based nanomaterials by elucidating the structure-property correlations for photocatalytic hydrogen generation and CO₂ reduction applications. The effect of using various kinds of 2D and 3D COFs and strategies to control the morphology and enhance the photocatalytic activity is also summarized. Finally, the key challenges and perspectives in the field are highlighted for the future development of highly efficient COF-based photocatalysts.     

Photoenzymatic RAFT Emulsion Polymerization with Oxygen Tolerance

Photoenzymatic reversible addition-fragmenatation chain transfer(RAFT) emulsion polymerization, surfactant-free or ab initio, of various monomers is reported with oxygen tolerance. In surfactant-free emulsion polymerizatoin, poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)s were used as stabilizer blocks for emulsion polymerization of methyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate and styrene, producing well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers, including those with an ultrahigh molecular weight, at quantitative conversions. Th...     

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer/miniemulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate in the presence of β‐cyclodextrin

In the presence of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been successfully applied to control the molecular weight and polydispersity [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n)] in the miniemulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate, with 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as a chain‐transfer agent (or RAFT agent) and 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. β‐CD acted as both a stabilizer and a solubilizer, assisting the transportation of the water‐insoluble, low‐molecular‐weight RAFT agent into the polymerization loca (i.e., droplets or latex particles) and thereby ensuring that the RAFT agent was homogeneous in the polymerization loca. The polymers produced in the system of β‐CD exhibited narrower polydispersity (1.2 < M_w/M_n < 1.3) than those without β‐CD. Moreover, the number‐average molecular weight in the former case could be controlled by a definite amount of the RAFT agent. Significantly, β‐CD was proved to have a favorable effect on the stability of polymer latex, and no coagulum was observed. The effects of the concentrations of the RAFT agent and AIBN on the conversion, the molecular weight and its distribution, and the particle size of latices were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the influences of the variations of the surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and costabilizer (hexadecane) on the RAFT/miniemulsion polymerization were also studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2931–2940, 2005     

Well‐controlled RAFT polymerization initiated by recyclable surface‐modified Nb(OH)5 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation

A recyclable solid‐state photoinitiator based on the surface modified niobium hydroxide is prepared and successfully introduces into reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization under visible light illumination. It is revealed by gel permeation chromatography analysis that well‐defined polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity index can be achieved when the feed ratio of photoinitiator to the RAFT agent was controlled properly. It is also found that the polymerization is highly responsive to external stimulus and when light is removed from the system polymerization stops almost immediately. In addition, the photoinitiator can be recycled and reused to initiate the polymerization for many times without significant decrease of initiation efficiency. At last, the mechanism for the light initiated polymerization is proposed to illuminate how the initiation and chain propagation proceed. This facile, green and visible light initiation methodology could attract more and more applications in polymer science with the depletion of fossil energy. A recyclable solid‐state photoinitiator based on the surface modified niobium hydroxide was prepared and successfully introduced into reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization under visible light illumination. It is revealed that well‐defined polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity index (PDI) can be achieved when the feed ratio of photoinitiator to the RAFT agent was controlled properly. It is also found that the polymerization is highly responsive to light initiation. In addition, the photoinitiator can be recycled and reused to initiate the polymerization for many times without significant decrease of initiation efficiency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2715–2724     

Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of vinyl acetate under high pressure

In this work, high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) (M_n,GPC = 123,000 g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.28) was synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) under high pressure (5 kbar), using benzoyl peroxide and N,N‐dimethylaniline as initiator mediated by (S)‐2‐(ethyl propionate)‐(O‐ethyl xanthate) (X1) at 35 °C. Polymerization kinetic study with RAFT agent showed pseudo‐first order kinetics. Additionally, the polymerization rate of VAc under high pressure increased greatly than that under atmospheric pressure. The “living” feature of the resultant PVAc was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and chain extension experiments. Well‐defined PVAc with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained relatively fast by using RAFT polymerization at 5 kbar. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1430–1436     

Living radical miniemulsion polymerization by RAFT in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin

Living radical polymerization of styrene in a miniemulsion by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) was successfully realized in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin (CD), using sodium dodecyl sulfate and hexadecane as surfactant and costabilizer, respectively. The drawback of instability (red layer formation) encountered in the living radical polymerization in emulsion or miniemulsion was overcome. The linear relationship between the monomer conversion and the molecular weight, as well as lower molecular weight distribution (MWD), shows that the polymerization process was under control. The addition of CD was found to have little influence on the polymerization rate. However, MWD of the polymer synthesized is obviously decreased. The mechanism of stability and controllability improvement in the presence of CD proposed that the complex formation between CD and RAFT agent or RAFT agent-ended oligomer increased their diffusion ability from monomer droplet to polymerization locus and improved the homogeneity of the RAFT agent level among the polymerization loci.     

Efficient Synthesis of Poly(acrylic acid) in Aqueous Solution via a RAFT Process

The direct polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in aqueous solution for high molecular weight by means of living radical polymerization is still difficult. Here, AA was polymerized homogeneously in water by a reversible addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization (RAFT) in the presence of a water-soluble trithiocarbonate as a RAFT agent. Various ratios [AA]:[RAFT agent] were investigated to aim at different molecular weights. The polymerization exhibited living free-radical polymerization characteristics at different ratios [AA]: [RAFT agent]: controlled molecular weight, low polydispersity and well-suited linear growth of the number-average molecular weight, M _n with conversion. The chain transfer to solvent or polymer was suppressed during the polymerization process, thus high linear PAA with high molecular weight and low PDI can be obtained. Moreover, using the generated PAA as a macro RAFT agent, the chain extension polymerization of PAA with fresh AA displayed controlled behavior, demonstrated the ability of PAA to reinitiate sequential polymerization.     

Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in Microemulsion: The Influence of Reaction Conditions on Polymerization

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant and a difunctional RAFT agent S,S′-bis (α, α′-dimethylacetic acid) trithiocarbonate (BDAT) as chain transfer were conducted in microemulsion. The influence of polymerization temperature and concentration of RAFT agent on the polymerization were investigated, respectively. The results showed that the molecular weight of products increased linearly with conversion, the polydispersity indexes remained low value, and the polymerization processes were totally under control with increasing concentration of RAFT agent, the polymerization behavior exhibited living polymerization characters. In addition, the influence of RAFT concentration on the particle size was investigated by TEM. The results indicated that the particles were highly monodispersed and the particle size increased with increasing concentration of RAFT agent.     

Study of Solution Polymerization of Styrene in the Presence of Poly(ethylene glycol)-RAFT Agents Possessing Benzoyl Xanthate Derivatives

In this work, Macro-Reversible addition fragmentation termination (RAFT) agents based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) possessing different molecular weights and bearing benzoyl xanthate moieties were synthesized by the reaction of PEG potassium xanthate salts with benzoyl chloride, 4-methyl benzoyl chloride and 4-chloro benzoyl chloride. Controlled free radical polymerization of the styrene were carried out in the presence of these macro-RAFT agents using 2,2′-azobisizsobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to yield PS-b-PEG-b-PS block copolymers. The linear kinetic plot ln [M]_o/[M] vs. polymerization time indicated that was first order with reference to monomer concentration. The block copolymerization possessed controlled/living character. The controlled character of the RAFT polymerization of the styrene was confirmed by the formation of narrow polydispersity of the polymers, linear increases in the molecular weight with polymerization time and molecular weight of the products that agreed well with theoretical values. Polymers having relatively narrow molecular weight distributions and predetermined number average molecular weights were obtained by the RAFT polymerization of the styrene. However, molecular weights of the polymers deviated from the theoretical values when low molecular weight RAFT agents are used. The results indicate that PEG benzoyl xanthate RAFT agents can more efficiently control the polymerization comparing methyl or chlorobenzoyl derivatives. The block copolymers were characterized by spectroscopic and GPC methods.     

β-CD存在下MMA细乳液体系的RAFT聚合

近年来，活性自由基聚合已成为高分子合成领域中的一个热门课题．Rizzardo研究小组提出了一种新型活性自由基聚合反应，即RAFT(Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer)聚合．RAFT反应在传统的自由基聚合中加入了具有高链转移常数和特定结构的链转移剂——双硫酯类化合物．当链转移剂的浓度足够大时，链转移反应由不可逆变为可逆，聚合反应也随之发生质的变化，由不可控     

SET‐RAFT of MMA mediated by ascorbic acid‐activated copper oxide

In this work, cupric oxide (CuO) or cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) was used as the catalyst for the single electron transfer‐reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (SET‐RAFT) polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of ascorbic acid at 25 °C. 2‐Cyanoprop‐2‐yl‐1‐dithionaphthalate (CPDN) was used as the RAFT agent. The polymerization occurred smoothly after an induction period arising from the slow activation of CuO (or Cu₂O) and the “initialization” process in RAFT polymerization. The polymerizations conveyed features of “living”/controlled radical polymerizations: linear evolution of number‐average molecular weight with monomer conversion, narrow molecular weight distribution, and high retention of chain end fidelity. From the polymerization profile, it was deduced that the polymerization proceeded via a conjunct mechanism of single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and RAFT polymerization, wherein CPDN acting as the initiator for SET‐LRP and chain transfer agent for RAFT polymerization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012