Metal-Free Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymers from Benzyl Methyl Ethers: A Route to Polymerization Catalyst Recycling

New routes to porous materials can help lower production costs, improve sustainability, and broaden design options. Here, we use a selection of organic acids as catalysts in the synthesis hyper-cross-linked polymers from benzyl methyl ether compounds. This approach provides new route metal-free addresses one largest setbacks by allowing simple recovery recycling nonmetallic catalyst. By p-toluenesulfonic acid, solid at room temperature, catalyst rates >80% were easily achieved. The was then reused recovered further polymers. Three rounds are demonstrated on two different aromatic systems, with no apparent detriment chemical or textural properties resulting networks.