A One‐Pot Polymerization for Concurrently Inducing Predominant Helicity in Optically Inactive Helical Polymer and Constructing Graphene‐Based Chiral Hybrid Foams

Abstract

Synthetic chiral helical polymers have achieved impressive progress in past few decades. Unfortunately, how to construct chiral helical polymer‐derived functional materials still remains highly challenging. The present contribution reports an unprecedented, one‐step strategy for judiciously combining chiral helical polymer with graphene to construct chiral hybrid foams. Graphene oxide (GO), ascorbic acid (L‐AA), Rh catalyst, and an achiral acetylenic monomer bearing phenylboronic acid group are mixed in an aqueous dispersion. Under mild conditions, the monomer underwent polymerization; meanwhile GO transforms into reduced graphene oxide (RGO) which in situ self‐assembles to construct a 3D porous structure. Herein, L‐AA simultaneously plays double roles: 1) working as a chiral source for the monomer to undergo helix‐sense‐selective polymerization or transferring its chirality to the polymer chains via forming borate structure; and 2) working as a reducing agent for reducing GO. The preparation strategy combines four processes into one single step: monomer polymerization, chirality transfer, reduction of GO, and RGO's self‐assembly. The eventually obtained chiral hybrid foams demonstrate advantages of porous structure, chirality, and reversible borate functional groups. The established preparation strategy promises a potent platform for conveniently constructing advanced chiral polymeric materials and even chiral hybrids starting from achiral monomers.

Chiral Graphene Hybrid Materials: Structures, Properties, and Chiral Applications

“…On the basis of the study, [ 174 ] Deng group further established a one‐step process for preparing chiral hybrid composed of graphene and helical polyacetylene. [ 175 ] The preparation strategy is illustratively presented in Figure .…”

“…These strategies include using chiral catalyst, chiral monomer‐achiral monomer copolymerization, chiral field, and chiral postinduction. [ 186,187 ] In the study (Figure 11), [ 175 ] achiral acetylenic monomer (M B ) underwent HSSP with l ‐ascorbic acid ( l ‐AA) as chiral source. Indeed, l ‐AA is widely used as reducing agent for the reduction of GO.…”

Controlled Synthesis, Chiral Assembly, and Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Poly(Phenyl Isocyanide)‐Block‐Polyfluorene Copolymers

“…[22][23][24] From the inspiration of Mother Nature, varieties of helical polymers have been developed. [25][26][27][28] Among these helical polymers, helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s (PPIs) have attracted considerable research attention and applied in broad fields. [29,30] Benefitting from the inherent chirality of helix, helical PPIs are optically active.…”