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

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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.