The synthesis of microporous polymers using Tröger's base formation

A step-growth polymerisation based on the formation of Tröger's base, performed by simple reaction of a suitable aromatic diamine monomer with dimethoxymethane in trifluoroacetic acid, provides polymers of high average molecular mass. The properties of the resulting polymers can be tailored by the choice of monomer. In particular, the Tröger's base polymerisation is highly suited to the preparation of soluble polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) due to the resulting fused-ring TB linking group, which is both highly rigid and prohibits conformational freedom.