Synthesis of 2-substituted-Pyrimidine-based porous aromatic frameworks via oxygen involved biginelli multicomponent polymerization: toward high performance Li–S batteries

Facile, general methods for the preparation of functionalized porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) are necessary. Herein, we describe a new method for the one-step synthesis of functionalized pyrimidine-based PAFs via oxygen involved Biginelli multicomponent polymerization. As first application instance, we constructed a 2-amino-pyrimidine-based PAF (BPAF-1), and followed by employed it as a sulfur host material for lithium-sulfur batteries. Attributed to its 2-amino-pyrimidine structural superiorities, the BPAF-1/S composites demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance as cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries, such as good cyclability with a high capacity retention of 78.1% after 500 cycles and high rate capability up to 5C. Besides, it is convenient to bring various 2-substituted functional groups such as –OH, –SH, methyl, and phenyl functional groups to pyrimidine-based PAFs under similar conditions, which provided its wide applicability.