Efficient Iodine Uptake of Ultra Thermally Stable Conjugated Copolymers Bearing Biaceanthrylenyl Moieties and Contorted Aromatic Units Using a [3+2] Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclopolymerization Reaction

A novel series of copolymers made from alternating aromatic surrogates with contorted and spiro compounds, denoted as BCP1-3, was successfully synthesized employing a palladium-catalyzed one-pot [3 + 2] cyclopentannulation reaction. The resulting copolymers BCP1-3, which were isolated in high yields, exhibited weight-average molecular weights (M-w) ranging from 11.0 to 61.5 kg mol(-1) (kDa) and polydispersity index (M-w/M-n) values in the range of 1.7 and 2.0, which suggest a narrow molecular weight distribution, thus indicating the formation of uniform copolymer chains. Investigation of the thermal properties of BCP1-3 by thermogravimetric analysis disclosed outstanding stability with 10% weight loss temperature values reaching 800 degree celsius. Iodine adsorption tests revealed remarkable results, particularly for BCP2, which demonstrated a strong affinity toward iodine reaching an uptake of 2900 mg g(-1). Additionally, recyclability tests showcased the effective regeneration of BCP2 after several successive iodine adsorption-desorption cycles.