Exceptional Iodine Capture in 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks

Covalent organic-frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of porous and ordered materials formed by condensation reactions of organic molecules. Recently, the Schiff-base chemistry or dynamic imine-chemistry has been widely explored for the synthesis of COFs. The main reason for this new tendency is based on their high chemical stability, porosity and crystallinity in comparison to previously reported COFs. This critical review article summarizes the current state-of-the-art on the design principles and synthetic strategies toward COFs based on Schiff-base chemistry, collects and rationalizes their physicochemical properties, as well as aims to provide perspectives of potential applications which are at the forefront of research in materials science.

We synthesized a two-dimensional (2D) crystalline covalent organic framework (sp2c-COF) that was designed to be fully π-conjugated and constructed from all sp2 carbons by C=C condensation reactions of tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)pyrene and 1,4-phenylenediacetonitrile. The C=C linkages topologically connect pyrene knots at regular intervals into a 2D lattice with π conjugations extended along both x and y directions and develop an eclipsed layer framework rather than the more conventionally obtained disordered structures. The sp2c-COF is a semiconductor with a discrete band gap of 1.9 electron volts and can be chemically oxidized to enhance conductivity by 12 orders of magnitude. The generated radicals are confined on the pyrene knots, enabling the formation of a paramagnetic carbon structure with high spin density. The sp2 carbon framework induces ferromagnetic phase transition to develop spin-spin coherence and align spins unidirectionally across the material.

There have been breakthroughs in the development of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with tunability of composition, structure, and function, but the synthesis of chiral COFs remains a great challenge. Here we report the construction of two-dimensional COFs with chiral functionalities embedded into the frameworks by imine condensations of enantiopure TADDOL-derived tetraaldehydes with 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane. Powder X-ray diffraction and computer modeling together with pore size distribution analysis show that one COF has a twofold-interpenetrated grid-type network and the other has a non-interpenetrated grid network. After postsynthetic modification of the chiral dihydroxy groups of TADDOL units with Ti(O(i)Pr)4, the materials are efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes with high enantioselectivity. The results reported here will greatly expand the scope of materials design and engineering for the creation of new types of functional porous materials.