Switching of the conformational flexibility of a diazacyclooctane-containing ladder polymer by coordination and elimination of a Lewis acid

Abstract

A recently developed diazacyclooctane-containing ladder polymer, which represents the first example of a ladder polymer with a large degree of conformational freedom, undergoes coordination and elimination of a Lewis acid (BPh₂Cl), leading to reversible switching of the conformational flexibility of the polymer backbone. By taking advantage of this behaviour, it may be possible to control the bulk properties of the ladder polymer.