Toward azo-linked covalent organic frameworks by developing linkage chemistry via linker exchange

Exploring new linkage chemistry for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) provides a strong driving force to promote the development of this class porous materials. Here, the authors report a strategy to synthesize COFs with azo linkages based on an in situ linker exchange strategy which transforms imine-linked COFs into their azo-linked counterparts, and explore the unique properties of azo-linked COFs. Exploring new linkage chemistry for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) provides a strong driving force to promote the development of this emerging class of crystalline porous organic materials. Herein we report a strategy to synthesize COFs with azo linkage, one of the most important functional unit in materials science but having not yet been exploited as a linkage of COFs. This strategy is developed on the basis of in situ linker exchange, by which imine-linked COFs are completely transformed into azo-linked COFs (Azo-COFs). Moreover, distinct properties of Azo-COFs from their corresponding imine-linked precursors are observed, indicating unique property of Azo-COFs. This strategy provides a useful approach to develop new linkage chemistry for COFs. It also has established a synthetic method for azo-linked COFs, which not only enriches the family of COFs but also offers a platform to explore properties and applications of this class of crystalline porous conjugated polymers.

Automated summary

Exploring new linkage chemistry for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is a strong driving force for promoting the development of this class of porous materials. The authors report a strategy to synthesize COFs with azo linkages and explore their unique properties.