Atom-economical preparation of polybismaleimide-based microporous organic polymers

Abstract

In this study, a green and atom economical strategy has been developed to construct polybismaleimide-based microporous organic polymers (BMOPs). The preparation is achieved through one-step thermal-initiation homopolymerization of individual bismaleimide monomers in diphenyl sulfone (DPS). During the polymerization, neither an initiator is needed nor are by-products formed. The obtained BMOPs demonstrate a defined molecular structure, a high BET surface area (1025 m² g⁻¹), excellent thermal/chemical stability, and good gas storage and capture performance (CO₂: 13.25 wt%, 273 K/1.0 bar; CO₂/N₂ selectivity: 65.44, 273 K; H₂: 1.05 wt%, 77.3 K/1.13 bar; CH₄: 0.64 mmol g⁻¹, 273 K/1.13 bar; five kinds of volatile organic compounds: 860–2480 mg g⁻¹, room temperature). Moreover, DPS can be effectively recovered with a yield up to 95% and recycled at least three times. The characteristics of a predictable molecular structure and green and atom economical process endow this strategy with a potential applicability for sustainable and large-scale preparation of functional microporous organic polymers for industrial practice.