A Borinic Acid Polymer with Fluoride Ion‐ and Thermo‐responsive Properties that are Tunable over a Wide Temperature Range

A new type of smart borinic acid polymer with luminescence and multiple stimuli‐responsive properties is reported. In DMSO with small amounts of water, the homopolymer PBA shows a tunable upper critical solution temperature (UCST). As the amount of water increases from 0 to 2.5 % (v/v), the UCST rises linearly from 20 °C to 100 °C (boiling point of water). Thus, the thermal responsive behavior can be tuned over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, polymer solutions in DMSO show a reversible response to fluoride ions, which can be correlated to the presence of the Lewis acidic borinic acid groups. Upon addition of fluoride, the polymer becomes soluble because the functional R₂BOH groups are converted into ionic [R₂BF₂]^? groups, but turns insoluble again upon addition of H₂O, which reverses this process.