Dynamic Iminoboronate-Based Boroxine Chemistry for the Design of Ambient Humidity-Sensitive Self-Healing Polymers

Developing intrinsic self-healing polymeric materials is of great interest nowadays to extend material lifetime and/or prevent the replacement of damaged pieces. Spontaneously humidity-sensitive healable polymer network built around dynamic covalent B-O bonds was templated by using iminoboronate-based boroxine derivatives. Taking advantage of the dynamic boroxine/boronic acid equilibrium and iminoboronate chemistry, it is possible to construct polymeric materials able to self-heal without requiring any energy-demanding external activation. Interestingly, this novel family of iminoboronate adduct-based materials can be readily produced by a relatively simple and straightforward synthesis between boronic acid and diamine-based compounds, paving the way to coatings that are self-healable at ambient humidity.