POST-POLYMERIZATION AND POLYMERIC MATERIAL MODIFICATION THROUGH GOLD CATALYSIS AND POLYMERIC MATERIALS

Abstract

The system provides new methods and processes for the reaction of polymeric/oligomeric substrates with reactants comprising alkyne/alkene and/or protic nucleophilic moieties to afford functionalized polymeric/oligomeric products through the utilization of homogenous and/or heterogenous gold catalysis. More specifically, the system provides routes for reaction of polymeric/oligomeric substrates comprising varying degrees of aromatic character with alkyne/alkene bearing molecules to afford a functionalized polymeric/oligomeric product. The system additionally provides pathways wherein the inverse methodology is realized, providing functionalized materials from the reaction of polymeric substrates bearing alkyne/alkene moieties with aromatic and/or protic nucleophilic reagents. Furthermore, in a tangential methodology, the system affords functionalized polymeric materials from the reaction of polymeric substrates bearing protic nucleophilic substituents with alkyne/alkene containing molecules. The system provides pathways for the facile modification of commodity polymer materials in order to produce value-added materials utilizing current polymer infrastructure, commodity polymer feedstocks, and post-consumer plastic waste.

Claims

1. A polymeric material comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of the following formulae: ##STR00070## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1; ##STR00071## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1; ##STR00072## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1; ##STR00073## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and n′>1 ##STR00074## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and n′>1; ##STR00075## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and n′>1; ##STR00076## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and n′>1; ##STR00077## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and n′>1; and ##STR00078## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y and z are each independently an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and n′>1; and ##STR00079##  is a (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate, R, R′, R″, and R′″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group comprising from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group comprising from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, —H, —SR.sup.2, —OH, —OR.sup.2, —NH.sub.2, —NHR.sup.2, —NR.sup.2R.sup.3, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —CF.sub.3, —NO.sub.2, —COOH, —COOR.sup.2, —CHO, —COR.sup.2, —CONH.sub.2, —CONHR.sup.2, and —CONR.sup.2R.sup.3, wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and P is selected from an oligomeric or polymer chain which forms a branch from a backbone of the functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material or a neighboring functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material to form a crosslinked network, wherein P is limited to polymer chains comprising identical backbone connectivity to that of the polymers, namely, chains based on ##STR00080##  as defined above, which are incorporated as pendant structures during the reaction.

2. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, a hybrid functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer, a geminal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material, a vicinal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material, and a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material.

3. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of 1,1-disubstituted (geminal) alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, a 1,2-substituted (vicinal) alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, and a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material.

4. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material.

5. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate comprises a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, selenium, silicon and tellurium.

6. (canceled)

7. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polymer derived from a terminal alkyne.

8. The polymeric material of claim 7, wherein the terminal alkyne comprises a propargylic moiety.

9-11. (canceled)

12. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00081## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and x+y+z=n.

13. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00082## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and x+y+z=n.

14. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00083## x is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and x+y+z=n.

15. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00084## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, x+y+z=n and n′>1.

16. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00085## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, x+y+z=n and n′>1.

17. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00086## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, x+y+z=n and n′>1.

18-20. (canceled)

21. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00087## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

22. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00088## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

23. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymer has the formula: ##STR00089## wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

24. A method of preparing a functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, comprising a step of reacting one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates with: a) one or more compounds comprising one or more alkyne moieties; or b) one or more compounds comprising one or more alkene moieties; in the presence of one or more catalysts or initiators comprising gold, and the one or more catalysts or initiators are homogenous or heterogenous, to form a functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material.

25-37. (canceled)

38. A functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material prepared by the method of claim 24.

39. A hybrid functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material prepared by a combination of two or more methods of claim 24.

40. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein n is an integer from about 5 to about 1,000,000.

41. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises one of: poly{[1-phenylethane-1,2-diyl]-ran-[(methylacrylate)phenylethane-1,2-diyl]}; poly([oxy-1,4-phenylenesulfonyl-1,4-phenyleneoxy(dimethylmethylene)-1,4-phenylene]-ran-{oxy-1,4-phenylene-sulfonyl-[(methylacrylate)phenylene-1,4-diyl]oxy-1,4-phenylene-(dimethylmethylene)-[(methylacrylate)phenylene-1,4-diyl]}); or (poly{(oxyethane-1,2-diyloxyterephthaloyl)-ran-[oxyethane-1,2-diyloxy(methylacrylate)terephthal-oyl]}.

42. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate represented by ##STR00090## in the formulae is a phenyl or naphthyl group.

43. The polymeric material of claim 1, wherein the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate represented by ##STR00091## in the formulae is a phenyl group.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] In the accompanying drawings:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows structural depiction of the gold catalysts A-J.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a general procedure for gold-catalyzed post-polymerization modification (PPM) reactions.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows representative GPC traces selected from the optimization of the Au-mediated PPM of PS.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows the effect of catalyst loading on the degree of functionalization (%) for the following reaction conditions: PS (0.480 mmol), compound 1 (4.80 mmol), Au catalyst (2-0.05 mol %), AgSbF6 (6-0.15 mol %), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE, 0.85 M).

[0062] FIG. 5 shows the effect of [compound 1]/[PS] on the degree of functionalization (%) at reduced catalyst loadings of 2000 and 340 ppm.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows representative GPC traces denoting high degrees of functionalization in addition to the appearance of higher molecular weight (lower retention time) peaks corresponding to branching through a competing double-hydroarylation pathway.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows representative GPC traces selected from the optimization of the Au-mediated PPM of PSU.

[0065] FIG. 8 shows DSC thermograms of P1 (14.8% functionality) and PS. Inset: glass transition of P1 and PS, highlighting change upon functionalization.

[0066] FIG. 9 shows DSC thermograms of compound P2 (9.72% functionality) and the PSU and indicates the glass transition temperatures of compound P2 and the PSU, highlighting the change that occurs upon functionalization.

[0067] FIG. 10 shows a plot of tan S versus temperature for compound P1 (14.8% functionality) and PSU.

[0068] FIG. 11 shows a plot of storage modulus versus temperature for compound P1 (14.8% functionality) and the PS.

[0069] FIG. 12 shows a plot of complex viscosity versus temperature for compound P1 (14.8% functionality) and the PS.

[0070] FIG. 13 shows a plot of tan S versus temperature for compound P2 (9.72% functionality) and PSU.

[0071] FIG. 14 shows a plot of storage modulus versus temperature for compound P2 (9.72% functionality) and the PSU.

[0072] FIG. 15 shows a plot of complex viscosity versus temperature for compound P2 (9.72% functionality) and the PSU.

[0073] FIG. 16 shows a TGA thermogram of the PS with 5% degradation at 396.21° C.

[0074] FIG. 17 shows a TGA thermogram of compound P1 (14.8% functionality) with 5% degradation at 381.58° C.

[0075] FIG. 18 shows a TGA thermogram of the PSU with 5% degradation at 521.36° C.

[0076] FIG. 19 shows a TGA thermogram of compound P2 (9.72% functionality) with 5% degradation at 516.00° C.

[0077] FIG. 20 shows selected images of water (left) and diiodomethane (right) droplets on (a) the PS, (b) compound P1 (14.8% functionality), (c) the PSU, (d) compound P2 (9.72% functionality), (e) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and (f) compound P3 (2.00% functionality).

[0078] FIG. 21 shows a FT-IR spectra of the PS.

[0079] FIG. 22 shows a FT-IR spectra of compound P1 highlighting the C═O stretch at 1725 cm.sup.−1.

[0080] FIG. 23 shows a FT-IR spectra of the PSU.

[0081] FIG. 24 shows a FT-IR spectra of compound P2 highlighting the C═O stretch at 1725 cm.sup.−1.

[0082] FIG. 25 shows a FT-IR spectra of a waste PET bottle.

[0083] FIG. 26 shows a FT-IR spectra of compound P3, new C═O stretch occluded by backbone C═O stretch, spectra are consistent with starting material.

[0084] FIG. 27 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of PS.

[0085] FIG. 28 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P1.

[0086] FIG. 29 shows a .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P1.

[0087] FIG. 30 shows a .sup.1H-.sup.1H COSY (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P1.

[0088] FIG. 31 shows a .sup.1H-.sup.13C HSQC (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P1.

[0089] FIG. 32 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of the PSU.

[0090] FIG. 33 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P2.

[0091] FIG. 34 shows a .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P2.

[0092] FIG. 35 shows a .sup.1H-.sup.1H COSY (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P2.

[0093] FIG. 36 shows a .sup.1H-.sup.11C HSQC (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P2.

[0094] FIG. 37 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, trifluoroacetic acid-d, 303K) spectrum of a PET soda bottle.

[0095] FIG. 38 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, trifluoroacetic acid-d, 303K) spectrum of pristine PET.

[0096] FIG. 39 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, trifluoroacetic acid-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P3.

[0097] FIG. 40 shows a .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, trifluoroacetic acid-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P3 from pristine PET.

[0098] FIG. 41 shows a .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P3.

[0099] FIG. 42 shows a .sup.1H-.sup.1H COSY (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P3.

[0100] FIG. 43 shows a .sup.1H-.sup.13C HSQC (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303K) spectrum of compound P3.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0101] Post polymerization and polymeric materials modification through gold (Au) catalysis is a system that provides new methods and processes for the reaction of polymeric/oligomeric substrates with reactants comprising alkynes/alkenes to afford functionalized polymeric/oligomeric products through the utilization of homogenous and/or heterogenous Au catalysts. More specifically, it provides routes for reaction of polymeric/oligomeric substrates comprising varying degrees of aromatic character, such as PS or PSU for example, with alkyne/alkene bearing molecules to afford a functionalized polymeric/oligomeric product. Overall, it provides novel structurally complex functionalized polymeric products derived from polymeric/oligomeric starting materials prepared under mild reaction conditions via intermolecular Au catalyzed reaction mechanisms, from which unique properties that are not present in the parent material are imparted in the products.

[0102] Post polymerization and polymeric materials modification through Au catalysis overcomes several major long-standing issues associated with the process of PPM of polymeric substrates and commodity polymeric materials: 1) the outlined methodology overcomes the need for high reaction temperatures, harsh reagents, and long reaction times prototypically employed in the PPM of commodity polymeric materials; 2) the methodology circumvents the necessity for custom monomer synthesis to afford reactive polymer precursors commonly employed in PPM protocols, this in turn allows for the utilization of existing infrastructure and commodity polymer feedstocks which are not applicable for conventional PPM approaches; 3) this methodology eliminates the need for multistep synthetic manipulations to functionalize a polymer, affording a functionalized polymeric product in a single synthetic step; 4) the unique reactivity/stability of the gold catalyst(s) obviates the need for rigorous exclusion of H.sub.2O/O.sub.2 that is required in many PPM methodologies, particularly transition metal mediated protocols; and 5) the high functionality tolerance of Au allows for the installation of functionalities in the products that are inaccessible to other PPM protocols. These advantages coupled with the unique reactivity/selectivity of Au allows for the highly efficient functionalization of polymeric substrates under facile reaction conditions. Moreover, the capability of the outlined methodology to functionalize commodity polymeric materials without prior chemical manipulation provides routes for the upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into value-added materials. The methodology of the system has good potential for utilization in industrial polymer production, recycling, and plastic waste management; additionally, this PPM protocol has potential for use in any field and/or application that requires functionalized polymeric materials and/or networks.

Definitions

[0103] The following definitions are applicable for each embodiment disclosed in the text herein.

[0104] As used herein, the term “hydrocarbyl substituent” or “hydrocarbyl group” is used in its ordinary sense, which is well-known to those skilled in the art. Specifically, it refers to a group having a carbon atom directly attached to the remainder of the molecule and having a predominantly hydrocarbon character. Each hydrocarbyl group is independently selected from hydrocarbon substituents, and substituted hydrocarbon substituents containing one or more of halo groups, hydroxyl groups, alkoxy groups, mercapto groups, nitro groups, nitroso groups, amino groups, heteroaryl groups such as pyridyl groups, furyl groups, imidazolyl groups and ether groups, arene groups, heteroarene groups, carbocyclic rings, heterocyclic rings, aldehyde groups, ketone group, ester groups, carboxylic acid groups, amide groups, anhydride groups, nitrile groups, imine groups, acid chloride groups, sulfide groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfonyl groups, sulfinyl groups, alkene groups, azo groups, azido groups, thiocarbonyl groups, peroxy groups, and silane groups, and wherein no more than two non-hydrocarbon substituents are present for every ten carbon atoms in the hydrocarbyl group. See e.g. the IUPAC Purple book, page 313.

[0105] “Aromatic polymeric substrate” is intended to embrace an optionally substituted aromatic ring system(s) (Ar), such as phenyl or naphthyl, located pendant to, or within the backbone of a portion, or the entirety of, a polymeric structure. Applicable polymeric structures comprise homopolymers, copolymers (random, statistical, alternating, block, graft, etc.), conjugated polymers, cyclic polymers, ladder polymers, supramolecular polymers, spiropolymers, polyelectrolytes, ionomers, vitrimers/dynamic networks, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), coordination polymers, networks, composites, nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, etc.), and any conceivable polymeric structure, or combination of structures, comprised in part, or entirely, of aromatic moieties. Aromatic groups include, but are not limited to, monocyclic aromatic rings and polycyclic aromatic ring systems. In other embodiments, aromatic groups can be unsubstituted. In other embodiments, aromatic groups can be substituted.

[0106] As used herein, the term “(hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate” is used in its ordinary sense, which is well-known to those skilled in the art. Specifically, it refers to an optionally substituted aromatic ring system (Ar) comprising at least one constituent non-carbonaceous constituent atom (i.e., heteroatom), where heteroatoms include but are not limited to, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, selenium, phosphorus, etc. Applicable polymeric structures comprise homopolymers, copolymers (random, statistical, alternating, block, graft, etc.), conjugated polymers, cyclic polymers, ladder polymers, supramolecular polymers, spiropolymers, polyelectrolytes, ionomers, vitrimers/dynamic networks, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), coordination polymers, networks, composites, nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, etc.), and any conceivable polymeric structure, or combination of structures, comprised in part, or entirely, of heteroaromatic moieties. Heteroaromatic groups include, but are not limited to, monocyclic aromatic rings and polycyclic heteroaromatic ring systems. The heteroaromatic groups may be unsubstituted or substituted. Exemplary heteroaromatic groups include phenyl, thiophene, pyridine, furan, pyrrole, imidazole, fluorene and carbazole groups. Suitable examples of (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates, or heteroaromatic groups may include polystyrene, polysulfone, polyether ether ketone, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polysulfone (PSU), polyether sulfone (PESU), poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (e.g., Kevlar®), poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone (PEK) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and

##STR00036##

indicates in the reaction schemes a (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate.

[0107] The term “alkyne” or “alkyne moiety” as employed herein refers to a linear, branched, cyclic, (hetero)aromatic, polymeric, or a combination of linear and/or branched and/or cyclic and/or (hetero)aromatic and/or polymeric hydrocarbon chain(s) and/or ring(s) having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. Suitable examples of a compound comprising one or more “alkyne moiety” may include any aliphatic terminal alkyne e.g., butyne, hexyne, octyne, decyne, etc., any cycloaliphatic terminal alkyne e.g., cyclohexyne, cyclooctyne, etc., 4-bromobut-1-yne, propargyl acetate, butyn-2-one, propargyl alcohol, propargyl amine, propargyl acetate, glycidyl propargyl ether, ethynyl ferrocene and methyl propiolate. Suitable examples of a compound comprising two or more “alkyne moieties” may include 1,4-diethynylbenzene, 1,3-diethynylbenzene, 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene, 1,9-decadiyne, propargyl ether, 1,6-heptadiyne, 4,7,10,13,16-pentaoxanonadeca-1,18-diyne and 5,6-dimethyl-5-decen-1,9-diyne.

[0108] The term “alkene” or “alkene moiety” as employed herein refers to any combination of linear, branched, cyclic, (hetero)aromatic, polymeric, or a combination of linear and/or branched and/or cyclic and/or (hetero)aromatic and/or polymeric hydrocarbon chain(s) and/or ring(s) having at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Suitable examples of a compound comprising one or more “alkene moiety” may include any aliphatic terminal alkene i.e., 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, etc., allyl alcohol, allyl bromide, allyl chloride, methyl acrylate, vinyl acetate and acrylic acid, among others or an internal alkene such as cis- and trans-substituted alkenes, 2-pentene, 2-butene, cyclohexene. 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, methyl oleate and dimethyl maleate. Suitable examples of compounds comprising two or more “alkene moieties” may include, for example, 1,3-butadiene, divinylbenzene, trivinylbenzene, 1,7-octadiene and cyclooctadiene. Suitable examples of compounds comprising two or more internal alkene moieties include cyclooctadiene, spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-diene, furanoeudesma 1,3-diene, bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene, (1S,4S)-2,5-diphenylbicyclo[2,2,2]octa-2,5-diene, cholesta-2,4-diene, pregna-1,4,16-triene-3,20-dione, bicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4,7-triene, and 4,8-dibromobicyclo[3.3.2]deca-2,6,9-triene.

[0109] The term “electron withdrawing functional group” refers to a group that reduces electron density in a molecule through the carbon atom it is bonded to via inductive or resonance effects. Exemplary electron-withdrawing groups include, for example, esters (e.g., —COOR), ketones (e.g., —COR), nitro groups (e.g., —NO.sub.2), cyano groups (e.g., —CN), aldehyde groups (e.g., —CHO) and carboxylic acid groups (e.g., —COOH).

[0110] The term “electron donating functional group” refers to a group that has the net effect of increasing electron density in a molecule through the carbon atom it is bonded to via inductive or resonance effects. Exemplary electron donating groups include ether groups (e.g., —O—), hydroxyl groups (e.g., —OH), amine groups (e.g., —NH.sub.2, —NR.sub.2, etc.), arene groups (e.g., phenyl), and C.sub.1-C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl groups (e.g., —CH.sub.3), wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are as defined elsewhere herein.

[0111] The term, “ran” is defined in IUPAC copolymer nomenclature as a polymer composition that “obeys Bernoullian statistics” and is truly random. The copolymer nomenclature is available here on page 264: https://iupac.org/what-we-do/books/purplebook/. Thus, the term, “ran” denotes a copolymer with no precisely defined repeating structure due to fabrication by a random functionalization mechanism.

[0112] In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of preparing: [0113] a) an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material comprising a step of reacting one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates with one or more compounds comprising an alkyne moiety to form the alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material; or [0114] b) an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material comprising a step of reacting one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates with one or more compounds comprising one or more alkene moieties to form an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material.

[0115] The method may include mixing one or more, or two or more, (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate(s) with a) one or more, two or more, compounds comprising one or more alkyne moieties to form a mixture; or b) one or more, or two or more compounds comprising one or more alkene moieties. This mixture may be combined in the presence of a gold (Au) catalyst or initiator. Suitable Au catalysts include, for example, [bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate](2-dicyclohexyl(2′, 6′-dimethoxybiphenyl)phosphine)gold(I), (acetonitrile)[(2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine]gold(I)hexafluoroantimonate, chloro[(2-biphenyl)ditert-butylphosphine]gold(I), chloro(tri-tert-butylphosphine)gold(I), chloro[tris(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)phosphine]gold(I), (acetonitrile)[1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(I) tetrafluoroborate and chloro[tri(ortho-tolyl)phosphine]gold(I). Preferred Au catalysts include, for example, chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold(I), chloro[1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(1) and chloro[tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite]gold(I), all of which are shown in FIG. 1.

[0116] In addition, the mixture may be combined further in the presence of other cocatalysts, coinitiators, or coactivators derived from silver (Ag), copper (Cu), alkali salts, at least one acid, or combinations thereof. This may yield (hetero)aromatic polymeric material(s) comprising identical connectivity to the initial polymeric substrate(s) with the additional incorporation of pendant alkene structures and corresponding substituents imparted from the alkyne reactant(s) onto a portion, or pendant alkane structures and corresponding substituents imparted from the alkene reactant(s) onto a portion, or the entirety of, the (hetero)aromatic moieties contained within the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate structure. Exemplary cocatalysts include, for example, silver hexafluoroantimonate(V) (AgSbF.sub.6), silver iodide (AgI), silver chloride (AgCl), silver bromide (AgBr), silver trifluoroacetate (AgTFA), silver acetate (AgOAc), silver p-toluenesulfonate (AgOTs), silver bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (AgNTf.sub.2), silver triflate (AgOTf), silver tetrafluoroborate (AgBF.sub.4), potassium tris(triflyl)methide (KCTf.sub.3), silver polyfluoroalkoxyaluminates such as AgAl(OCH(CF.sub.3).sub.2).sub.4, AgAl(OC(CH.sub.3)(CF.sub.3).sub.2).sub.4, and AgAl(OC(CF.sub.3).sub.3).sub.4, and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (NaBARF).

[0117] The one or more compounds reacted with the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates may comprise one or more alkyne moieties, or the one or more compounds reacted with the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates may comprise one or more alkene moieties. The one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates is reacted with the one or more compounds comprising one or more alkyne moieties in an equivalent ratio of from about 0.1 to about 100. The one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates is reacted with the one or more compounds comprising two or more alkyne moieties in an equivalent ratio of from about 0.1 to 100.

[0118] In the foregoing methods, the one or more compounds comprising one or more alkyne moieties may include a terminal alkyne comprising an electron donating moiety to form a 1,1,-disubstituted (geminal) alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, or may include a terminal alkyne comprising an electron withdrawing moiety to form a 1,2-substituted (vicinal) alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, or may include an internal alkyne moiety such as dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, diphenylacetylene and 2-butyne-1,4-diol, to form a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material. Examples of compounds with two or more internal alkyne moieties include, for example, 1,1,1,8,8,8-hexaphenyl-octa-3,5-diyne-2,7-diol and 1,1,6,6-tetrakis-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-hexa-2,4-diyne-1,6-diol.

[0119] For example, the foregoing method may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety, which may be described by the following reaction scheme to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, or a hybrid functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer, or a geminal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material or a vicinal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material:

##STR00037##

wherein

##STR00038##

is a (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate in which (hetero)aromatic moieties (including but not limited to monocyclic, polycyclic, and macrocyclic (hetero)aromatics, wherein the heteroatom(s) (if present) include, but are not limited to: sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, selenium, silicon, tellurium, etc. are contained pendant to and/or within the structure of a polymeric material. Applicable polymeric structures comprise homopolymers, copolymers (random, statistical, alternating, block, graft, etc.), conjugated polymers, cyclic polymers, ladder polymers, supramolecular polymers, spiropolymers, polyelectrolytes, ionomers, vitrimers/dynamic networks, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), coordination polymers, networks, composites, nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, etc.), and any conceivable polymeric structure, or combination of structures, comprised in part, or entirely, of aromatic moieties. Wherein “ran” denotes a random composition of the polymer backbone structure varying between the moieties located on either side of the ran located within the polymer reaction scheme. Furthermore, n may be an integer greater than or equal to 1, or an integer from about 5 to about 1,000,000; x, y, z, and m are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z>0, and x+y+z+m=n.

[0120] The following definition for R, R′, R″, and R′″ may be used to describe each of the embodiments described herein. Specifically, in any one of reaction schemes shown herein, R, R′, R″, and R′″ may each independently be selected from the group comprising an unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or from 1 to 10 to carbon atoms, a substituted hydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted aryl group comprising from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted aryl group comprising from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or from about 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted heteroaryl group comprising from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or from about 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted heteroaryl group comprising from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or from about 6 to 10 carbon atoms, —H, —SR.sup.2, —OH, —OR.sup.2, —NH.sub.2, —NHR.sup.2, —NR.sup.2R.sup.3, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —CF.sub.3, —NO.sub.2, —COOH, —COOR.sup.2, —CHO, —COR.sup.2, —CONH.sub.2, —CONHR.sup.2, —CONR.sup.2R.sup.3, wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R or R′ may not be —F, —Cl, —Br, I, —CN, —CF.sub.3, —NO.sub.2, —COOH, COOR.sup.2, CHO, COR.sup.2, CONH.sub.2, CONHR.sup.2, CONR.sup.2R.sup.3 when the R or R′ group forms a geminal alkene or geminal methyl group. If R and R′ are different, R may be defined as having more electron donating character than R′. R may be any electron donating functional group, R′ may be any electron withdrawing functional group. If R, R′, R″, and R′″ are different, R″ is defined as having more electron donating character than R′″. It is well known to skilled persons how to determine and compare electron donating character.

[0121] In the foregoing methods, the one or more alkyne moieties of the one or more compounds may be a terminal alkyne comprising an electron donating moiety to form a 1,1-disubstituted (i.e., geminal) alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material(s); or a terminal alkyne comprising an electron withdrawing moiety to form a 1,2-substituted (i.e., vicinal) alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material(s) or an internal alkyne moiety to afford 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material(s).

[0122] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form a geminal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer material. The compound may be an electron rich terminal alkyne as depicted in reaction scheme (2):

##STR00039##

wherein

##STR00040##

“ran” and R are the same as define previously and n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y=n.

[0123] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form a vicinal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material. The compound may be an electron poor terminal alkyne as depicted in reaction scheme (3):

##STR00041##

wherein

##STR00042##

“ran” and R′ are the same as define previously and n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y=n.

[0124] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic material. The compound may be an internal alkyne as depicted in reaction scheme (4):

##STR00043##

wherein

##STR00044##

“ran”, R″ and R′″ are the same as define previously and n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y=n.

[0125] The foregoing methods of preparing an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may comprise reacting one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates with a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form double substituted branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material(s) and/or networks. The method may comprise mixing one or more, two or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate with one or more, two or more than one, compounds comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form a mixture. This mixture may be combined in the presence of am Au catalyst or initiator. In addition, the mixture may be combined further in the presence of other cocatalysts, coinitiators, or coactivators derived from silver (Ag), copper (Cu), alkali salts, at least one acid, or combinations thereof. This may yield (hetero)aromatic polymeric material(s) with the additional incorporation of alkane pendant chains and/or crosslinks with the corresponding substituents imparted from the alkyne reactant(s) onto a portion, or the entirety of, the (hetero)aromatic moieties contained within the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate structure.

[0126] In the foregoing methods, the two or more alkyne moieties of the one or more compounds may be a terminal alkyne comprising an electron donating moiety to form a methyl branched alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material(s) and/or networks, or a terminal alkyne comprising an electron withdrawing moiety to form a branched alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material(s) and/or networks, or an internal alkyne moiety to form 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material(s) and/or networks.

[0127] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or a hybrid functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks or a methyl branched alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material and/or networks, or a branched alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material and/or networks, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material and/or network:

##STR00045##

wherein “ran”, R, R′, R″, and R′″ are the same as defined previously. Furthermore, n is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; x, y, z, x′, y′, z′ and m are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z>0, and x+y+z+x′+y′+z′+m=n. P is defined as a as an oligomeric/polymeric chain which may form a branch stemming from the parent (hetero)aromatic polymer substrate backbone and/or a neighboring (hetero)aromatic polymer chain denoting a crosslinked network, or P may be defined as an oligomeric/polymeric chain which may form a branch stemming from the parent polymer substrate backbone and/or a neighboring polymer chain denoting a crosslinked network. P is limited to polymer chains comprising identical backbone connectivity to that of the polymers, i.e., chains based on

##STR00046##

as defined above which are incorporated as pendant structures during the reaction.

[0128] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material, and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks, or a methyl branched alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material and/or network. The compounds may be electron rich terminal alkyne as depicted in formula (6):

##STR00047##

wherein “ran”, R, and P are the same as defined previously. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n.

[0129] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks, or a branched alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material and/or networks. The compounds may be electron poor terminal alkyne as depicted in formula (7):

##STR00048##

wherein “ran”, R′, and P are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n.

[0130] The foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising at least one alkyne moiety to form the alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane branched and/or crosslinked (hetero)aromatic material and/or networks. The compound may be an internal alkyne as depicted in reaction scheme (8):

##STR00049##

wherein “ran”, R″, R′″, and P are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y+z=n. For example, the foregoing methods for preparing an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may include reacting one or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates with a compound comprising two or more alkyne moieties to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material networks. The method comprises mixing one or more, two or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate with one or more, or two or more compounds comprising two or more alkyne moieties. This mixture may be combined in the presence of a gold (Au) catalyst or initiator. In addition, this mixture may be combined further in the presence of other cocatalysts, coinitiators, or coactivators derived from silver (Ag), copper (Cu), alkali salts, at least one acid, or combinations thereof. This may yield (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks with the additional incorporation of alkene crosslinks containing the corresponding substituents imparted from the alkyne reactant(s) onto a portion, or the entirety of, the (hetero)aromatic moieties contained within the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate structure.

[0131] In the foregoing methods, the two or more alkyne moieties of the one or more compounds may be two terminal alkyne moieties comprising an electron donating moiety to form a geminal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic networks, or two terminal alkyne moieties comprising an electron withdrawing moiety to form a vicinal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic networks, or two internal alkyne moieties to form 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene crosslinked (hetero)aromatic networks.

[0132] For example, the foregoing methods for preparing an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may include a compound comprising two or more alkyne moieties to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or hybrid functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks, or a geminal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic network, or a vicinal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic network, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene crosslinked (hetero)aromatic network:

##STR00050##

Wherein “ran”, P, R, R′, R″, and R′″ are the same as defined previously. Furthermore, n is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; x, y, z, x′, y′, z′ and m are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z>0, x+y+z+x′+y′+z′+m=n, and n′>1.

[0133] For example, the foregoing methods for preparing an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may include a compound comprising two or more alkyne moieties to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or a functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymer and/or a functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric network, or a geminal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic network. The compound may comprise two, or more, electron rich terminal alkyne as depicted in reaction scheme (10):

##STR00051##

wherein “ran”, P, and R are the same as defined previously. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

[0134] For example, the foregoing methods for preparing an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may include a compound comprising two or more alkyne moieties to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks, or a vicinal alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic network. The compound may comprise two, or more, electron poor terminal alkyne as depicted in reaction scheme (11):

##STR00052##

wherein “ran”, P, and R′ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

[0135] For example, the foregoing methods for preparing an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may include a compound comprising two or more alkyne moieties to form an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric networks, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkene crosslinked (hetero)aromatic network. The compound may comprise two or more internal alkyne moieties as depicted in reaction scheme (12):

##STR00053##

wherein “ran”, P, R″, and R′″ are the same as defined previously. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

[0136] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising an alkene moiety to form an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or hybrid alkane functionalized polymers, or a methyl branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic material, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic material:

##STR00054##

wherein “ran”, R, R′, R″, and R′″ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; x, y, z, and m are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z≥1, and x+y+z+m=n.

[0137] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising an alkene moiety to form a methyl branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or methyl branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymers from compounds comprising electron rich terminal alkene moieties as depicted in reaction scheme (14):

##STR00055##

wherein “ran” and R are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y=n.

[0138] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising an alkene moiety to form an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or linear alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymers from compounds comprising electron poor terminal alkene moieties as depicted in formula (15):

##STR00056##

wherein “ran” and R′ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y=n.

[0139] For example, the foregoing methods may employ a compound comprising an alkene moiety to form an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material and/or branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymers from compounds comprising internal alkene moieties to form a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic material as depicted in reaction scheme (16):

##STR00057##

wherein “ran”, R″, and R′″ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, and x+y=n.

[0140] For example, the foregoing methods for preparing an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may include reacting (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrates with a compound comprising two or more alkene moieties to form an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials/networks. The method comprises mixing one or more, or two or more (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate with one or more compounds comprising two or more two alkene moieties. This mixture may be combined in the presence of a gold (Au) catalyst or initiator. In addition, the mixture may be further combined in the presence of other cocatalysts, coinitiators, or coactivators derived from silver (Ag), copper (Cu), alkali salts, at least one acid, or combinations thereof. This may yield (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials/networks with the additional incorporation of partially, or entirely, aliphatic crosslinks containing the corresponding substituents imparted from the alkene reactant(s) onto a portion, or the entirety of, the (hetero)aromatic moieties contained within the (hetero)aromatic polymeric substrate structure.

[0141] In the foregoing methods, the two or more alkene moieties of the one or more compounds may be two terminal alkene moieties comprising an electron donating moiety to form a methyl branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic networks, or may be two terminal alkene moieties comprising an electron withdrawing moiety to form branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic networks, or may be two internal alkene moieties to form 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane crosslinked (hetero)aromatic networks.

[0142] For example, the foregoing method may employ a compound comprising two or more alkene moieties, which may be described by the following reaction scheme to form alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials and/or hybrid functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer networks, or a methyl branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic network, or a branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic network, or a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane crosslinked (hetero)aromatic network:

##STR00058##

wherein “ran”, P, R, R′, R″, and R′″ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n is defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; x, y, z, x′, y′, z′ and m are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z>0, x+y+z+x′+y′+z′+m=n, and n′>1.

[0143] For example, the foregoing method may employ a compound comprising two or more alkene moieties, which may be described by the following reaction scheme to form alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer networks from compounds comprising two or more electron rich terminal alkene moieties to form a methyl branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic network:

##STR00059##

wherein “ran”, P, and R are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

[0144] For example, the foregoing method may employ a compound comprising two or more alkene moieties, which may be described by the following reaction scheme to form alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer networks from one or more compounds comprising two or more electron poor terminal alkene moieties to form a branched alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic network:

##STR00060##

wherein “ran”, P, and R′ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

[0145] For example, the foregoing method may employ a compound comprising two or more alkene moieties, which may be described by the following reaction scheme to form alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials and/or functionalized branched (hetero)aromatic polymers and/or functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymer networks from one or more compounds comprising two or more internal alkene moieties to form a 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkane crosslinked (hetero)aromatic network:

##STR00061##

wherein “ran”, R″, and R′″ are the same as previously defined. Furthermore, n and x are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 1; y and z are defined as an integer greater than or equal to 0, x+y+z=n, and n′>1.

[0146] In a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to an alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material or an alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material or crosslinked functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric materials prepared by any one of the foregoing methods, more specifically, the alkene functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material or alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may be prepared by any one of reaction schemes 1-20.

[0147] In a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a complex hybrid (hetero)aromatic polymeric material prepared by a combination of two or more of the foregoing methods of preparing an alkene or alkane functionalized (hetero)aromatic polymeric material to provide a complex hybrid (hetero)aromatic polymeric material. More specifically, the complex hybrid (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may be prepared by a combination of any two or more of reaction schemes 1-20. The complex hybrid (hetero)aromatic polymeric material may comprise alkene functionalized pendants and/or alkene functionalized polymeric branches and/or alkene functionalized crosslinks and/or alkane functionalized pendants and/or alkane functionalized polymeric branches and/or alkane functionalized crosslinks stemming from the (hetero)aromatic polymer reactant structure.

[0148] In each of the foregoing embodiments, the size of the polymers may vary, depending on the properties desired. In some embodiments, p, p′, n, n′, m, m′, x, x′, y, y′, z, z′, a, a′, b, b′, c, c′, c″, and c′″ may each individually be integer of about 10 or greater, or about 20 or greater, or about 50 or greater, or about 100 or greater. In some embodiments, p, p′, n, n′, m, m′, x, x′, y, y′, z, z′, a, a′, b, b′, c, c′, c″, and c′″ are integers between about 5 and about 1,000,000, between about 10 and about 1,000,000, between about 10 and about 5,000, between about 10 and about 2,500, between about 10 and about 1,000, between about 10 and about 500, between about 50 and about 1,000,000, between about 50 and about 5,000, between about 50 and about 2,500, between about 50 and about 1,000, between about 50 and about 500, between about 100 and about 1,000,000, between about 100 and about 5,000, between about 100 and about 2,500, between about 100 and about 1,000, or between about 100 and about 500. Other intervals, combining any of the above parameters to form a new interval, can also be used (e.g., n or m between about 500 and 2,500). In additional embodiments, the system provides polymer(s) ten (10) units long and below, i.e., oligomer(s), wherein the oligomer(s) is(are) of size n, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 10.

[0149] Some embodiments described herein are recited as “comprising” or “comprises” with respect to their various elements. In alternative embodiments, those elements can be recited with the transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” or “consists essentially of” as applied to those elements. In further alternative embodiments, those elements can be recited with the transitional phrase “consisting of” or “consists of” as applied to those elements. Thus, for example, if a composition or method is disclosed herein as comprising A and B, the alternative embodiment for that composition or method of “consisting essentially of A and B” and the alternative embodiment for that composition or method of “consisting of A and B” are also considered to have been disclosed herein. Likewise, embodiments recited as “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” with respect to their various elements can also be recited as “comprising” as applied to those elements.

Examples

[0150] General Comments. All manipulations of air/and or moisture-sensitive compounds were performed under an inert atmosphere using standard glovebox and Schlenk techniques. Reagents, unless otherwise specified, were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and used without further purification. Narrow standard polystyrene (PS) was purchased from Alfa Aesar and used as received. Polysulfone (PSU) pellets were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and used as received. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was sourced from a 20 fluid oz. Dr Pepper® bottle. The PET was thoroughly rinsed with deionized H.sub.2O, dried in vacuo, and cut into 2×1 cm pieces prior to use. Pristine PET was synthesized according to literature procedures..sup.4 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), chloroform (CHCl.sub.3), dichloromethane (DCM), and hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) were degassed and dried over 4 Å molecular sieves prior to use. Chloroform-d (CDCl.sub.3) and trifluoroacetic acid-d (TFA-d) were purchased from Cambridge Isotope Laboratories and used as received. [Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate](2-dicyclohexyl(2′, 6′-dimethoxybiphenyl)phosphine)gold(I) (A), (acetonitrile)[(2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine]gold(I)hexafluoroantimonate (B), chloro[(2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine]gold(I) (C), chloro(tri-tert-butylphosphine)gold(I) (E), chloro[tris(2,3,4,5,6-penta-fluorophenyl)phosphine]gold(I) (F), chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) (H), (acetonitrile)[1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(I) tetrafluoroborate (I), chloro[1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(I) (J), silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgOTf) and silver hexafluoro-antimonate(V) (AgSbF.sub.6) were purchased from Strem Chemicals and used as received. Silver bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) (AgNTf.sub.2), chloro[tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite]gold(I) (D) and chloro[tri(ortho-tolyl)phosphine]gold(I) (G) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and used as received, catalysts A-J are depicted in FIG. 1. .sup.1H, .sup.13C, .sup.19F, .sup.1H-.sup.1H COSY, and .sup.1H-.sup.13C HSQC NMR spectra were collected on a Bruker Avance III 600 MHz spectrometer and chemical shifts, δ (ppm), were referenced to the residual solvent impurity peak of the given solvent. Data reported as: s=singlet, d=doublet, t=triplet, m=multiplet, br=broad; coupling constant(s), J, are given in Hz. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were recorded under vacuum (˜0.8 mbar) in the solid state on NaCl plates using a Bruker VERTEX 80v spectrometer and a liquid nitrogen cooled mercury-cadmium-telluride detector. The number average molecular weight (M.sub.n), weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w), and dispersity (D) were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) relative to polystyrene standards at 45° C. in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using a Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography system configured with ACQUITY APC™ XT 450, ACQUITY APC™ XT 125, and ACQUITY APC™ XT 45 columns in series. Polymer samples were pre-dissolved at a concentration of 1.00-2.00 mg mL.sup.−1 in THF with stirring at 45° C. for 1 h. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was conducted on a TA Instruments Q200 differential scanning calorimeter following a heat-cool-heat cycle from 0-230° C. and 0-300° C. at a ramp rate of 5° C. min.sup.−1 for polystyrene and polysulfone respectively; the T.sub.g was taken from the final heat cycle to mitigate thermal history effects. Thermomechanical properties were investigated by conducting dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) on a TA Instruments ARES-G2 rheometer. Samples were loaded onto 8 mm stainless steel parallel plates at 180° C. and 320° C. for polystyrene and polysulfone respectively. Samples were cooled at a rate of 3° C. min.sup.−1 while being subjected to a 2.0% strain amplitude at a frequency of 20 rad s.sup.−1. The strain amplitude was decreased to 0.2% and axial force compensation was activated at 130° C. and 230° C. for PS and PSU, respectively, to accommodate volumetric changes and rapid viscosity increases as the polymers transitioned from the rubbery to the glassy state through the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted using a TA Instruments Q200 TGA. Samples of 7-10 mg were heated from 30-900° C. at 20° C. min.sup.−1 in an N.sub.2 atmosphere.

Characterization of Polymer Starting Materials

Poly(1-phenylethane-1,2-diyl) (PS)

[0151] Appearance: white solid. GPC analysis (45° C., THF): M.sub.n=13,135 g mol.sup.−1 and Ð=1.03. .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 7.31-6.88 (br, 31, C.sub.4H.sub.5), 6.88-6.31 (br, 2H, C.sub.6H.sub.5), 2.38-1.70 (br, 1H, CHCH.sub.2), 1.68-0.74 (br, 2H, CHCH.sub.2). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 145.35, 128.09, 127.79, 125.78, 125.63, 46.16, 44.06, 40.77, 40.56. IR (NaCl, thin film) ν.sub.max (cm.sup.−1): 3082, 3060, 3026, 2925, 2850, 1944, 1871, 1805, 1747, 1668, 1661, 1492, 1452, 1373, 1329, 1314, 1218, 1182, 1155, 1068, 1028, 906, 756, 700, 666, 622, 540.

Poly[oxy-1,4-phenylenesulfonyl-1,4-phenyleneoxy(dimethylmethylene)-1,4-phenylene] (PSU)

[0152] Appearance: white pellet. GPC analysis (45° C., THF): M.sub.n=23,731 g mol.sup.−1 and Ð=2.14. .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 7.84 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 7.24 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 7.00 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 6.94 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 1.69 (s, 6H, C(CH.sub.3).sub.2). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 162.08, 153.00, 147.28, 135.59, 129.82, 128.56, 119.92, 117.82, 42.55, 31.09. IR (NaCl, thin film) ν.sub.max (cm.sup.−1): 3095, 3066, 3035, 2968, 2873, 1905, 1585, 1504, 1489, 1410, 1387, 1363, 1325, 1294, 1244, 1168, 1151, 1107, 1080, 1014, 874, 854, 835, 754, 715, 692, 667, 634.

Poly(oxyethane-1,2-diyloxyterephthaloyl) (PET)

[0153] Appearance: clear solid (soda bottle) or white solid (pristine PET). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, TFA-d, 303 K): δ 8.30 (s, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 4.99 (s, 4H, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, TFA-d, 303 K): δ 171.45, 136.23, 132.71, 71.87, 67.49, 66.82. IR (NaCl, thin film) ν.sub.max (cm.sup.−1): 3436, 2958, 2884, 1951, 1721, 1578, 1504, 1448, 1406, 1383, 1267, 1179, 1105, 1027, 971, 883, 838, 729, 686.

General Procedure for Gold Catalyzed Post-Polymerization Modification (PPM) of Aromatic Polymers

[0154] A gold catalyst solution was prepared in a nitrogen (N.sub.2) filled glovebox by loading a 1-dram vial with gold catalyst (0.0100 mmol, 1 equiv), AgSbF.sub.6 (0.0300 mmol, 3.00 equiv), and solvent (120 μL). The gold catalyst solution was stirred at room temperature for 15 min and filtered through a small plug of glass-wool to remove precipitated silver salts. A 1-dram vial was then loaded with aromatic polymer (0.480 mmol, 1.0 equiv) and methyl propiolate (0.960 or 4.80 mmol, 2.00 or 10.0 equiv respectively). The vial was brought inside the N.sub.2-filled glovebox, followed by addition of the gold catalyst solution (120 μL, 2 mol %) and solvent (447 μL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature (25° C.) for a specified amount of time. The product was precipitated into methanol, the solid precipitate was collected via centrifugation, and the product dried in vacuo.

[0155] Example 1. This example involved the modification of polystyrene (PS) with methyl propiolate to prepare ester functionalized polystyrene (P1), in the presence of chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) as the catalyst, and AgsbF.sub.6, as a cocatalyst.

##STR00062##

Poly{[1-phenylethane-1,2-diyl]-ran-[(methylacrylate)phenylethane-1,2-diyl]} (P1)

[0156] Catalyst: H. Solvent: DCE. Appearance: off white solid. Degree of functionalization: 17.4%. GPC analysis (45° C., THF): M.sub.n=14,568 g mol.sup.−1 and Ð=1.03. .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 7.91-6.89 (br, 3H, C.sub.6H.sub.5), 6.89-6.21 (br, 2H, CHs), 6.02-5.76 (br, 1H, para-CH═CHCOOCH.sub.3), 5.63-5.26 (br, 1H, ortho-CH═CHCOOCH.sub.3), 5.26-5.01 (br, 1H, meta-CH═CHCOOCH.sub.3), 3.98-3.28, (br, 3H, COOCH.sub.3), 3.24-1.66 (br, 1H, CHCH.sub.2), 1.66-0.44 (br, 2H, CHCH.sub.2). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 166.34, 145.35, 143.52, 132.27, 130.22, 128.09, 12779, 125.78, 125.78, 125.63, 118.06, 51.41, 51.00, 46.16, 44.98, 44.06, 42.74, 41.87, 40.77, 40.56. IR (NaCl, thin film) ν.sub.max (cm.sup.−1): 3082, 3060, 2925, 2852, 2058, 1944, 1871, 1803, 1724, 1630, 1603, 1493, 1452, 1313, 1271, 1240, 1196, 1169, 1068, 1028, 908, 848, 827, 756, 700, 523.

[0157] Example 2. This example involved the modification of polysulfone (PSU) with methyl propiolate to prepare ester functionalized polystyrene (P2), in the presence of chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) as the catalyst, and AgsbF.sub.6, as a cocatalyst.

##STR00063##

Poly([oxy-1,4-phenylenesulfonyl-1,4-phenyleneoxy(dimethylmethylene)-1,4-phenylene]-ran-{oxy-1,4-phenylene-sulfonyl-[(methylacrylate)phenylene-1,4-diyl]oxy-1,4-phenylene-(dimethylmethylene)-[(methylacrylate)phenylene-1,4-diyl]}) (P2)

[0158] Catalyst: H. Solvent: DCE. Appearance: off white solid. Degree of functionalization: 21.6%. GPC analysis (45° C., THF): M.sub.n=27,282 g mol.sup.−1 and Ð=2.32. .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 7.85 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 7.24 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 7.00 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 4H, CH.sub.4), 6.94 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 6.41 (d, J=16.2 Hz, 1H, CH═CHCOOCH.sub.3), 5.90 (d, J=12.4 Hz, 1H, CH═CHCOOCH.sub.3), 4.02-3.37 (br, 3H, COOCH.sub.3), 1.69 (s, 6H, C(CH.sub.3).sub.2). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 162.08, 153.00, 150.30, 147.28, 137.67, 135.59, 129.82, 128.56, 121.84, 119.92, 117.82, 117.41, 51.52, 42.55, 31.09. IR (NaCl, thin film) ν.sub.max (cm.sup.−1): 3095, 3068, 3033, 2970, 2874, 1903, 1274, 1587, 1504, 1488, 1411, 1364, 1324, 1295, 1246, 1170, 1153, 1108, 1081, 1014, 874, 855, 836, 755, 716, 691, 667, 635, 570.

[0159] Example 3. This example involved the modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with methyl propiolate to prepare ester functionalized poly(ethylene terephthalate) (P2), in the presence of chloro[(2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine]gold(1) as the catalyst, and AgsbF.sub.6, as a cocatalyst.

##STR00064##

Poly{(oxyethane-1,2-diyloxyterephthaloyl)-ran-[oxyethane-1,2-diyloxy(methylacrylate)terephthaloyl]} (P3)

[0160] Catalyst: C. Solvent: HFIP/DCE (1/5). Appearance: off white solid. Degree of functionalization: 3.1%. .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, TFA-d, 303 K): δ 8.30 (s, 4H, C.sub.6H.sub.4), 6.68 (d, J=10.1 Hz, 1H), 4.99 (s, 4H, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2), 4.12-3.72 (br, 3H, OCH.sub.3). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, chloroform-d, 303 K): δ 171.19, 171.13, 161.06, 146.64, 145.98, 135.96, 133.67, 132.45, 66.55, 55.72, 55.60, 55.34, 55.11, 54.85. IR (NaCl, thin film) ν.sub.max (cm.sup.−1): 3436, 2958, 2884, 1951, 1721, 1578, 1504, 1448, 1406, 1383, 1267, 1179, 1105, 1027, 971, 883, 838, 729, 686.

Synthetic Details and Measurement Methods

[0161] The general procedure for the gold-catalyzed post-polymerization modification reactions is shown in FIG. 13. Additional details regarding the measurement methods can be found in, King, Eric R. et al., “Gold-Catalyzed Post-Polymerization Modification of Commodity Aromatic Polymers,” JACS Au 2021, 1, 1342-1347.

Calculation of Percent Functionalization

[0162] To facilitate rapid screening during initial optimization studies, the degree of functionalization was evaluated from the M.sub.n determined from GPC relative to the M.sub.n of the unfunctionalized PS. This method was implemented for comparative purposes and derived from a narrow standard GPC calibration curve using PS standards. Accordingly, the data may not be representative of the absolute degree of functionalization and is referred to as the relative degree of functionalization (i.e., relative % functionalization). Accurate values of the degree of functionalization were determined using .sup.1H NMR for the products (see equation 2). The relative degree of functionalization was calculated using equation 1:

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Relative}\%\mathrm{Functionalization}=\frac{M_n^{\mathrm{product}}-M_n^{\mathrm{scaffold}}}{\left(\frac{M_n^{\mathrm{scaffold}}}{M_0^{\mathrm{scaffold}}}\times M_0^{\mathrm{product}}\right)-M_n^{\mathrm{scaffold}}}& 1\end{array}$

where M.sub.n.sup.scaffold, M.sub.0.sup.scaffold, and M.sub.n.sup.product represent the M.sub.n of the unfunctionalized scaffold, formula mass of the unfunctionalized scaffold constitutional repeat unit, M.sub.n of the product, and formula mass of the product constitutional repeat unit, respectively.

[0163] The absolute degree of functionalization (i.e., % functionalization) for P1-P3 were calculated from .sup.1H NMR using equation 2:

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}\%\mathrm{Functionalization}=\frac{I_{{\mathrm{OCH}}_3}}{I_{\mathrm{ref}}}\times \frac{N_{\mathrm{ref}}}{3}=\frac{I_{=}}{I_{\mathrm{ref}}}\times \frac{N_{\mathrm{ref}}}{1}& 2\end{array}$

Where I.sub.OCH, I.sub.ref, N.sub.ref, and I.sub.= represent the integration of the OCH.sub.3 proton signal, the integration of the reference peak (consistent number of protons between product and scaffold), number of protons represented by the reference peak, and integration of the α-carbonyl alkene proton, respectively. The application of this equation is illustrated as an inset in the .sup.1H NMR of P1 (see FIG. 28).

Au-Mediated PPM of PS

[0164]

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Function- Time [PS] Temp M.sub.n alization Entry Catalyst AgX (h) (M) (° C.) [1]/[PS] (g mol.sup.−1).sup.h Ð.sup.h (%)  1 — — — — — — 13,135 1.03 —  2.sup.d A — 24 0.85 25 2 13,214 1.03 0.6  3.sup.d A — 24 0.85 25 10 13,253 1.02 0.9  4.sup.d A — 24 0.85 80 2 13,306 1.02 1.3  5.sup.d A — 24 0.85 80 10 13,214 1.02 0.6  6.sup.d A — 24 0.85 80 10 13,293 10.2 1.2  7.sup.d A — 24 0.85 60 10 13,135 1.03 0.0  8.sup.d A — 24 0.85 40 10 13,135 1.02 0.0  9.sup.d B — 24 0.85 25 10 13,293 1.03 1.2 10.sup.d B — 24 0.85 80 10 13,319 1.03 1.4 11.sup.d B — 24 0.85 40 10 13,188 1.02 0.4 12 C AgOTf 24 0.85 25 2 13,279 1.03 1.1 13 C AgOTf 24 0.85 25 10 13,188 1.03 0.4 14 C AgOTf 24 0.85 80 2 13,148 1.03 0.1 15 C AgOTf 24 0.85 80 10 13,227 1.03 0.7 16 C AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 25 10 13,831 1.03 5.3 17 D AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 25 10 13,923 1.03 6.0 18 D AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 25 10 14,540 1.04 10.7 19 D AgSbF.sub.6 1 0.85 25 10 13,805 1.03 5.1 20 D AgSbF.sub.6 3 0.85 25 10 13,857 1.03 5.5 21 D AgSbF.sub.6 1 0.85 80 10 14,527 1.03 10.6 22 E AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 25 10 14,028 1.03 6.8 23 F AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 25 10 13,595 1.03 3.5 24 F AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 80 10 13,936 1.05 6.1 25 G AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 80 10 13,687 1.11 4.2 26 G AgSbF.sub.6 1 0.85 25 10 13,713 1.03 4.4 27 G AgSbF.sub.6 3 0.85 25 10 14,120 1.03 7.5 28 G AgSbF.sub.6 6 0.85 25 10 14,265 1.03 8.6 29 H AgOTf 24 0.85 25 2 13,529 1.05 3.0 30 H AgOTf 24 0.85 25 10 13,293 1.03 1.2 31 H AgOTf 24 0.85 80 2 13,293 1.03 1.2 32 H AgOTf 24 0.85 80 10 13,266 1.03 1.0 33 H AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.50 80 10 14,068 1.16 7.1 34 H AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.10 80 2 13,831 1.04 5.3 35 H AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.10 80 10 14,212 1.06 8.2 36.sup.d I — 24 0.85 25 10 13,306 1.03 1.3 37.sup.d I — 24 0.85 80 10 13,398 1.03 2.0 38 J AgSbF.sub.6 6 0.85 25 10 13,805 1.03 5.1 39 J AgSbF.sub.6 6 0.85 80 10 14,186 1.04 8.0 40 J AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 60 10 13,871 1.04 5.6 41 J AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 40 10 13,765 1.03 4.8 42 J AgSbF.sub.6 24 0.85 25 10 13,437 1.02 2.3 43 H — 12 0.85 25 2 13,135 1.03 — 44 — AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 2 13,135 1.03 — 45 — AgNTf.sub.2 12 0.85 25 2 13,135 1.03 — 46 — AgOTf 12 0.85 25 2 13,135 1.03 — 47.sup.e H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 10 13,257 1.03 0.9 48 .sup.e H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 2 13,471 1.03 2.6 49 .sup.e H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 1 13,872 1.05 5.6 50 .sup.e H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 0.5 13,906 1.03 5.9 51 .sup.e H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 0.25 13,911 1.03 5.9 52 .sup.f H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 10 13,380 1.04 1.9 53 .sup.f H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 2 14,214 1.05 8.2 54 .sup.f H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 1 14,274 1.05 8.7 55 .sup.f H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 0.5 14,620 1.06 11.3 56 .sup.f H AgSbF.sub.6 12 0.85 25 0.25 13,940 1.03 6.1 .sup.aReaction conditions: PS (0.480 mmol), 1 (4.80, 0.960, 0.480, 0.240, or 0.120 mmol), Au catalyst (2 mol %), AgX (6 mol %), 1-2-dichloroethane (DCE, 0.85M). .sup.bDeterminated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) at 45° C. in tetrahydrofuran (THF). .sup.cCalculated from M.sub.n, see equation 1. .sup.dNo AgX was utilizied. .sup.e340 ppm Au catalyst used. .sup.f 2000 ppm Au catalyst used. See FIGS. 3-6 for the results of the experiments.

##STR00065##

Effect of Solvent Dielectric Constant (ε) on PPM Reactions.

[0165]

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Dielectric Temp [1]/ M.sub.n Functionalization Entry Catalyst AgX Solvent (ε) (° C.) [PS] (g mol.sup.−1).sup.b Ð.sup.b (%).sup.c  1 C AgSbF.sub.6 DCE 10.36 25 10 13,532 1.03 3.1  2 C AgSbF.sub.6 DCM 8.93 40 10 13,886 1.04 5.8  3 C AgSbF.sub.6 CHCl.sub.3 4.81 25 10 13,125 1.03 0.0  4 D AgSbF.sub.6 DCE 10.36 25 10 14,529 1.04 10.7  5 D AgSbF.sub.6 DCM 8.93 25 10 13,611 1.03 3.7  6 D AgOTf DCM 8.93 40 10 13,230 1.03 0.8  7 D AgSbF.sub.6 CHCl.sub.3 4.81 60 10 13,125 1.07 0.0  8 D AgOTf CHCl.sub.3 4.81 25 10 13,493 1.01 2.8  9 H AgSbF.sub.6 DCE 10.36 80 10 14,201 1.06 8.2 10 H AgSbF.sub.6 DCM 8.93 25 10 13,808 1.03 5.2 11 H AgSbF.sub.6 CHCl.sub.3 4.81 60 10 13,125 1.03 0.0 12 H AgOTf CHCl.sub.3 4.81 60 2 13,296 1.02 1.3 13 J AgSbF.sub.6 DCE 10.36 80 10 14,149 1.04 7.8 14 J AgSbF.sub.6 DCM 8.93 25 2 13,283 1.03 1.2 15 J AgSbF.sub.6 DCM 8.93 40 2 13,374 1.03 1.9 16 J AgOTf DCM 8.93 40 1 13,204 1.03 0.6 17 J AgSbF.sub.6 CHCl.sub.3 4.81 60 10 13,125 1.04 0.0 18 Good AgOTf CHCl.sub.3 4.81 60 10 13,191 1.03 0.5 .sup.aReaction conditions: PS (0.480 mmol), 1 (0.960 or 4.80 mmol, Au catalyst (2 mol %), AgX (6 mol %). .sup.bDetermined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) at 45° C. in tetrahydrofuran (THF). .sup.cCalculated from M.sub.n, see equation 1.

##STR00066##

Branching of Au-Mediated PPM of PS at Low [1]/[PS] Ratios.

[0166]

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Temp M.sub.n M.sub.w Entry Catalyst (° C.) Solvent (g mol.sup.−1).sup.b (g mol.sup.−1).sup.b Ð.sup.b  1 — — — 13,135 13,519 1.03  2.sup.c B 25 DCE 16,789 17,293 1.03  3.sup.c B 80 DCE 20,033 27,380 1.37  4 C 25 DCE 20,851 27,895 1.34  5 C 80 DCE 28,252 41,126 1.46  6 C 25 DCM 17,905 20,559 1.15  7 F 25 DCE 17,103 17,902 1.05  8 G 25 DCE 14,834 15,195 1.03  9 G 80 DCE 107,900 457,759 4.24 10 H 25 DCM 20,523 21,052 1.03 11 H 25 DCE 25,054 49,968 1.99 12.sup.d H 25 DCE 14,282 14,846 1.05 13.sup.e H 25 DCE 14,933 15,905 1.08 .sup.aReaction conditions: PS (0.480 mmol), 1 (0.960 mmol), Au catalyst (2 mol %), AgSbF.sub.6 (6 mol %), 1,2-dicloroethane (DCE, 0.85M), 25° C. .sup.bDetermined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) at 45° C. in tetrahydrofuran (THF). .sup.cNo AgSbF.sub.6 was utilized. .sup.dReaction time reduced to 1 h. .sup.eReaction time reduced to 3 hours.

Regioselectivity of Au-mediated PPM of PS.

[0167] ##STR00067##

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Average Average Average Entry Catalyst para (%).sup.b meta (%).sup.b ortho (%).sup.b 1.sup.c B 61.5 ± 9.2 15.4 ± 4.4 23.2 ± 5.4 2 C 64.7 ± 5.2 13.1 ± 2.3 22.2 ± 3.5 3 D 64.7 ± 6.1 12.8 ± 2.8 22.4 ± 3.4 4 F 55.0 ± 8.5 17.1 ± 0.8 27.9 ± 7.6 5 G 56.4 ± 14.6 17.5 ± 5.9 26.1 ± 8.7 6 H 64.5 ± 3.7 12.4 ± 1.5 23.1 ± 2.6 7.sup.c I 69.0 ± 0.7 13.8 ± 2.8 17.3 ± 2.1 8 J 60.0 ± 2.7 15.4 ± 0.5 24.7 ± 2.2 .sup.aReaction conditions: PS (0.48 mmol), 1 (4.80 mmol), Au catalyst (2 mol %), AgSbF.sub.6 (6 mol %), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE, 0.85M), 25° C. .sup.bDetermined from .sup.1H NMR relative peak integrations, standard deviation calculated from 10 iterative reactions. .sup.cNo AgSbF.sub.6 was utilized.

Optimization of PPM Conditions Using PSU.

[0168]

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Functionalization Entry Catalyst Solvent Temp (° C.) [1]/[PSU] (%).sup.b 1 C DCE 25 2 7.3 2 C DCE 80 2 9.3 3 C DCM 25 2 12.7 4 C DCM 40 2 6.7 5 C DCE 80 10 9.5 6 C DCE 25 10 6.3 7 C DCM 40 10 5.7 8 G DCE 25 10 12.2 9 G DCE 25 2 20.2 10 H DCE 25 2 21.6 11 H DCE 25 10 5.9 12 J DCE 25 2 18.2 13 J DCE 25 10 4.1 14 J DCE 25 2 3.3 15 J DCE 80 2 3.7 .sup.aReaction conditions: PSU (0.480 mmol), 1 (4.80 mmol), Au catalyst (2 mol %), AgX (6 mol %), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE, 0.50M), 25° C. .sup.bDetermined from .sup.1H NMR, see equation 2.

##STR00068##

Optimization of PPM Conditions Using PET.

[0169] ##STR00069##

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Function- Cata- Temp alization Entry lyst Solvent [PET] (° C.) [1]/[PET] (%).sup.b 1 C TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.30 25 10 1.3 2 C TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.85 25 2 2.0 3 G TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.85 25 2 1.5 4 G TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.30 25 10 1.0 5 H TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.30 25 10 1.4 6 H TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.85 70 2 1.0 7 H TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.85 25 2 1.5 8 J TFA/DCE (1/2) 0.85 25 2 1.4 9 H TFA/DCE (1/5) 0.3 25 2 2.2 10 H TFA/DCE (1/5) 0.3 55 2 1.3 11 H HFIP/DCE (1/5) 0.3 25 2 3.1 12 H HFIP/DCE (1/5) 0.3 55 2 2.2 .sup.aReaction condiiton: PET (0.260 mmol, 1 (0.520 or 2.60 mmol), Au catalyst (2 mol %), AgSbF.sub.6 (6 mol %). .sup.bCalculated from .sup.1H NMR, see equation 2.

Contact Angle Measurements

[0170] Contact angle measurements were obtained using an Ossila Contact Angle Goniometer. Polymer films were probed with DI water and diiodomethane (CH.sub.2I.sub.2) to investigate the non-dispersive (polar) and dispersive (non-polar) components of surface free energy (σ.sub.s) in accordance with the Owens, Wendt, Rabel, and Kaelble (OWRK) method..sup.1-2 Droplets of ˜4 μL were dispensed onto the substrates with a 25 μL micropipette. Droplets were allowed to stabilize for 10 s before images were captured for contact angle measurement. Three replicates were conducted for each probing solvent on each substrate. The free surface energy for each surface was calculated according to Young's equation (3), which describes the relationship between the contact angle, θ, and σ.sub.l, σ.sub.sl, σ.sub.s which correspond to surface tension of the liquid, the interfacial tension between liquid and solid, and the surface free energy of the solid respectively. As postulated by Fowkes.sup.3, the interfacial tension σ.sub.sl can be expressed as the sum of the two surface tensions (σ.sub.s and σ.sub.l) and the interactions between the phases interpreted as the disperse part σ.sup.D, and the polar part σ.sup.P calculated via equations 4.

σ.sub.s=σ.sub.sl+σ.sub.l.Math.cos θ  3

σ.sub.sl=σ.sub.s+σ.sub.l−2(√{square root over (σ.sub.s.sup.D.Math.σ.sub.l.sup.D)}+√{square root over (σ.sub.s.sup.P.Math.σ.sub.l.sup.P)})  4

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Contact angle measurements and Surface Energies. Sub- DI Water σ.sub.s.sup.D σ.sub.s.sup.P σ.sub.s strate (θ) CH.sub.2I.sub.2 (θ) (mN M.sup.−1) (mN M.sup.−1) (mN M.sup.−1) PS 95.5 ± 0.1 26.2 ± 0.8 45.7 ± 0.3 0.04 ± 0.0 45.7 ± 0.3 PSU 88.5 ± 0.4 24.6 ± 1.3 46.3 ± 0.4 0.62 ± 0.1 46.9 ± 0.5 PET 73.7 ± 1.6 36.1 ± 0.8 41.5 ± 0.4 5.35 ± 0.6 46.9 ± 0.9 P1 90.7 ± 1.4 25.8 ± 0.6 45.9 ± 0.2 0.37 ± 0.1 46.3 ± 0.3 P2 89.6 ± 0.4 21.3 ± 0.5 47.4 ± 0.2 0.40 ± 0.0 47.8 ± 0.2 P3 65.0 ± 1.1 46.5 ± 1.7 36.2 ± 0.9 11.0 ± 0.6 47.2 ± 1.5 ± denotes calculated standard deviation.