Multicomponent C-H Activation/Annulation Polymerizations Toward Structurally Regular Polyelectrolytes With...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Organic Synthesis

Background:

• C-H activation/annulation polymerization (CAAP) is a key method for synthesizing heteroaromatic polyelectrolytes.
• Regioisomerization issues with asymmetric monomers limit CAAP's broader application and control over polymer structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a one-pot multicomponent CAAP strategy that avoids regioisomerization.
• To synthesize structurally well-defined heteroaromatic polyelectrolytes with tunable properties.

Main Methods:

• Employed symmetric and monofunctional internal alkynes as comonomers with aromatic dialdehydes and diamines.
• Utilized a one-pot multicomponent C-H activation/annulation polymerization (CAAP) strategy.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized structurally regular polyelectrolytes with high molecular weights (up to 224700 g/mol) and yields (up to 91.2%).
• Achieved excellent solubility and tunable photophysical properties, including near-infrared emission.
• Demonstrated synergistic photothermal and photodynamic effects for potent light-enhanced antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against various bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.

Conclusions:

• The developed CAAP strategy precisely synthesizes diverse functional polyelectrolytes, circumventing regioisomerization.
• These novel polymers hold significant potential for applications in optoelectronics and as antimicrobial therapeutics.