Click polymerization has been developed rapidly since this concept was put forward. To date, click polymerization is mainly focused on the polymerization of azide-alkyne, thiol-yne, and amino-ynes. However, highly efficient hydroxyl-yne click polymerization is rarely reported. In this work, we realized click polymerization of activated diynes and diols in the presence of DABCO under ambient conditions. Poly(vinylene ether ester)s (PVEEs) with high molecular weights (<i>M</i><sub>w</sub> up to 71 000 g/mol) were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) in 1 h. This polymerization enjoys many advantages, such as easy accessible raw materials, no need for nitrogen protection, mild conditions, high efficiency, atom economy, etc. After introduction of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) unit into the polymer backbone, polymers possessing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) feature were obtained. Such polymers could be used to detect explosive. Moreover, using this efficient click polymerization, we designed and fabricated luminescent two-way reversible shape memory polymers (2W-SMPs). The resultant networks are able to perform excellent reversible shape memory, such as bending-unbending, coiling-uncoiling, and closing-blooming. Moreover, a robotic gripper and double anti-counterfeiting capability could be realized.

Organobase-catalysed hydroxyl–yne click polymerization and its applications

ACS Spring 2022

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