I-Corps: Catalytic Porous Organic Polymers

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of catalytic materials that will enable the more efficient and green production of high value materials including pharmaceuticals and dyes. These proposed catalysts may be recycled or used for extended periods and are easily separated from the final products, which simplifies the manufacturing of these materials. In addition, the proposed materials materials have an advantage by making use of porous organic polymers that may provide solution-like reactivities as well as the advantages of a supported surface immobilized catalyst. The recyclable and ease of separation combine to create systems that may be used in conventional or emerging production methods and lower production costs. This I-Corps project is based on the development of new concepts in catalysis enabled by new generations of polymers with high degrees of internal free volume. These proposed polymers have high degrees of porosity and are created by molecular level designs that fuse non-compliant 3D monomers directly into the polymer backbone. The polymer structures are modular and can include structures capable of reactions that are promoted by light that oxidize of reduce compounds (photoredox reactivity), as well as thermochemical metal catalyzed reactions. Catalytic polymers can be bound to magnetic inorganic magnetic particles, glass sidewalls of reactors, on stirring turbines, or on the surfaces of tubing. The polymer structures and pockets around the catalytic sites can produce selectivity and high numbers of turnovers. In the case of photoredox catalytic materials, the polymers display much higher rates than molecular catalysts dissolved in solution, as a result of their excitonic and charge transporting abilities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.