Fluorinated porous organic cages - Syntheses, Properties and Functionalization

• Applicant: Dr. Bernd M. Schmidt
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 457772810

The project aims to develop unprecedented porous fluorinated organic cages. Alongside metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), porous organic cages (POCs) are characterised by a modular synthesis and excellent properties such as thermal stability, catalytic activity, high gas affinity and selectivity. Ultra-hydrophobic fluorinated MOFs were reported and show promising gas adsorption capabilities and hydrolytic stability. However, fluorinated POCs are almost non-existent. We aim to synthesize fluorinated POCs to study their formation, supramolecular chemistry, material properties and compare them to similar non-fluorinated POCs, that were already reported. Second, we developed a general reaction to postfunctionalize “locked” fluorinated POCs. This gives us the possibly to control the intrinsic as well as extrinsic pore of the POC. By choosing different iso(thio)cyanates, one or more different functional groups (or molecules) can covalently be attached to the POC.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants