Synthetic Phosphorus Chemistry: The Systematic Development of Organophosphorus Molecules and Polymers

本研究旨在系统地发展磷及其化合物的化学。磷是一种重要的元素，不仅是生命所必需的，而且被用于大量的商业产品。我们工作的主要目标是开发含有磷作为主链关键成分的聚合物。特定聚合物的性质和潜在应用是构成链结构的原子的排列和类型的直接结果。今天使用的大多数聚合物都是由含有碳、氧和/或氮原子的链组成的，这些原子具有明确的序列。由其他元素组成的聚合物的发展还处于起步阶段，然而，由于它们独特的物理性质和化学功能，这些所谓的无机聚合物有很大的前景。例如，由硅和氧原子交替组成的商用聚合物有机硅具有极高的灵活性和温度稳定性，这是有机聚合物无法达到的。无机聚合物开发的关键挑战是缺乏将无机元素加入到长链中的一般合成路线。

The research proposed herein aims to systematically develop the chemistry of phosphorus and its compounds. Phosphorus is an important element, not only being essential for life but being used in a wealth of commercial products. The primary objective of our work is to develop polymers that contain phosphorus as a key component of the main chain. The properties and potential applications of a particular polymer are a direct consequence of the arrangement and type of atoms that make up the chain structure. Most polymers in use today are comprised of chains containing carbon, oxygen, and/or nitrogen atoms in well-defined sequences. The development of polymers composed of other elements is at its infancy, however, there is considerable promise for these so-called inorganic polymers due to their unique physical properties and chemical functionality. For example, the commercial polymer silicone, consisting of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, has extreme flexibility and temperature stability that is unattainable with organic polymers. The key challenge to inorganic polymer development is the lack of general synthetic routes to incorporate inorganic elements into long chains.