Diversity-oriented route to functional covalent triazine frameworks

Abstract

An alternative route to synthesise TCNQ-CTF by using trifluoromethanesulfonic (TFMS) acid catalysis is presented, in comparison to a previously reported ZnCl₂-catalysed synthesis. The new synthetic route yields a polymer with additional structural diversity compared to the previously reported material. The composition of the framework is rationalised by ‘artificial’ acid-catalysed synthesis of TCNQ-CTF, together with a novel approach to structural feature identification, with a range of alternative structural features appearing that were not present in the previously reported polymer formed by ZnCl₂ catalysis. These results will inform the design of new CTF materials with additional functionality and broader applications.