Immobilisation of benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTZ) within polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) for use in flow photochemistry

Abstract

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) offer a useful combination of processability and inherent microporous features arising from their contorted and rigid structures, with the potential for the immobilisation of light harvesting groups for use in photochemistry. Herein, we report on the chemical incorporation of photosensitisers based on the benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTZ) group into PIM-EA-TB through a copolymerisation strategy, allowing up to 5% BTZ incorporation without compromising processability or microporosity. The BTZ-doped PIMs were then utilised as either homogeneous or heterogeneous visible light photosensitisers of oxygen under both batch and continuous flow conditions. The advantages of the solution processability of these materials was demonstrated by the simple deposition of the photoactive microporous polymer onto glass beads, which were then fixed within a column reactor for continuous flow photochemistry.