Fluorine-Containing Silsesquioxane-Based Hybrid Porous Polymers Mediated by Bases and Their Use in Water Remediation

Chemistry. 2018 Feb 9;24(9):2224-2231. doi: 10.1002/chem.201705192. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

Abstract

Two different silsesquioxane-based porous polymers (FHPPs), namely FHPP-1 and FHPP-2, have been prepared, respectively, by changing the acid scavenger from sodium bicarbonate to triethylamine in the Heck reaction between octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS) and 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene. It was observed that defluorination occurred in the case of triethylamine. FHPP-1 possesses a higher surface area of 600 m2 g-1 and a hierarchical porous structure; in contrast, FHPP-2 possesses a SBET value of 325 m2 g-1 and a microporous structure. This work provides a new approach to the preparation and tuning of fluorine-containing porous polymers based on silsesquioxanes. These porous materials were employed to remove dyes and a heavy metal from water, showing good binding efficiencies.

Keywords: Heck reaction; fluorine; microporous materials; polymers; silsesquioxanes.