Precision functional Boron polymers – PolyBora

The present proposal seeks to use pairing of Boranes with Lewis bases, forming classical Lewis pairs featuring dative bonds to i) generate H2-containing materials when amine-boranes are employed: H2 can be thermally or catalytically delivered highly pure at a temperature controlled by the polymer composition and structure and ii) stabilize precisely positioned radicals on polymeric materials via H-atom radical abstraction. We will code the properties using 2 strategies: 1) into the molecular ligated boranes prior or during polymerization; 2) into the Boron-containing (co)polymers using simple/robust post-polymerization functionalization. The polymer architecture and self-assembly will control the macroscopic properties of the materials, leading to improved or new functions. We thus aim at conferring properties to usual polymer scaffolds by introducing Boron-based Lewis pairs harnessing (mainly) radical copolymerizations of boronate-based vinylic monomers and polycondensations involving boranes.
The PolyBora project abides by the fundamental research approach on the one hand (dynamic Boron-containing polymers featuring Lewis pairs) but also capitalizes on the knowledge generated through valuable applications: 1) storage / release of hydrogen in materials (identified societal challenge) ; 2) stabilization of radicals in materials (for applications such as DNP-assisted imaging/spectroscopy, for example).