SusChEM: Lewis Pair Polymerization: A Powerful Synthetic Strategy for Sustainable and Functional Polymers

有了这个奖项，化学系的大分子，超分子和纳米化学计划，正在支持州立大学的科罗拉多尤金陈教授进行研究，以显着扩大刘易斯对聚合（LPP）的范围和实用性，特别是从生物质衍生的可再生原料合成聚合物。合成聚合物是包括衣服、电子设备、家具和家用产品在内的各种产品的重要组成部分。 陈教授进行研究，以开发新的催化剂和合成方法，从生物质衍生的可再生原料制备先进的功能性聚合物材料。 这项研究的重要目标是开发具有所需性能的聚合物合成的有效工艺，并减少社会对石油基原材料的依赖。 该项目还为教学和培训学生使用催化剂开发和聚合物研究的广泛技术提供了机会。 刘易斯对聚合是一种强大的聚合方法，在国家科学基金会的支持下，在Chen实验室中得到了实质性的发展。 本研究的具体目标是：1）发展立体选择性LPP技术，以生物质单体为原料合成立体规整的或光学活性的手性聚合物; 2）对生物质多乙烯基单体进行化学选择性LPP，得到功能性聚合物;以及3）将LPP方法用于合成潜在用于有机光伏（OPV）的给体/受体（D/A）接枝共聚物应用.

With this award, the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, is supporting Professor Eugene Chen from Colorado State University to conduct research to significantly expand the scope and utility of Lewis Pair Polymerization (LPP), especially for the synthesis of polymers from biomass-derived renewable feedstocks. Synthetic polymers are important components of a wide range of products including clothes, electronic devices, furniture, and household products. Professor Chen conducts research to develop novel catalysts and synthetic methods for the preparation of advance functional polymeric materials from biomass-derived renewable feedstocks. Important goals of this research are to develop efficient processes for the synthesis of polymers with desired properties and to reduce societal dependence on petroleum-based raw materials. This project also provides opportunities for teaching and training students in the use of a wide range of techniques important for catalyst development and polymer research. Lewis pair polymerization is a powerful polymerization method, that was substantially developed in the Chen lab under support from the National Science Foundation. The specific objectives of this research are: 1) to develop stereoselective LPP for the synthesis of stereoregular or optically active chiral polymers from biomass-derived monomers; 2) to perform chemoselective LPP of biomass-based multi-vinyl monomers to yield functional polymers; and 3) to apply the LPP method for the synthesis of donor/acceptor (D/A) graft copolymers that are potentially useful for organic photovoltaic (OPV) applications.