The synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) from multitopic ligands connected through a flexible polymer backbone has previously relied on polymer ligands with broad dispersities and poor control over molecular weight. Utilizing such polymers leads to integrated polymer-MOF hybrid materials with indeterminate composition, thereby precluding a fundamental understanding of the role of polymer composition, and limited scope. By using a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, we have developed low dispersity homopolymers and diblock copolymers bearing MOF-forming benzenedicarboxylic acid (H<sub>2</sub>bdc) linkers on the sidechains. Using these macromolecular ligands in combination with metal salts and free H<sub>2</sub>bdc allowed for the synthesis of crystalline polymer-MOF hybrids, which exhibited tunable stabilities and surfaces areas and represent the first example of an integrated polymer-MOF material from a chain-growth polymerization to exhibit permanent porosity. Furthermore, these results highlight the fundamental role that polymer dispersity plays in the formation of these integrated polymer-MOF hybrids.

Tunable polymer-MOF hybrids from RAFT polymerization

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.