A novel series of
copolymers made from alternating aromatic
surrogates
with contorted and spiro compounds, denoted as BCP1–3, was successfully synthesized employing a palladium-catalyzed one-pot
[3 + 2] cyclopentannulation reaction. The resulting copolymers BCP1–3, which were isolated in high yields, exhibited
weight-average molecular weights (M
w)
ranging from 11.0 to 61.5 kg mol–1 (kDa) and polydispersity
index (M
w/M
n) values in the range of 1.7 and 2.0, which suggest a narrow molecular
weight distribution, thus indicating the formation of uniform copolymer
chains. Investigation of the thermal properties of BCP1–3 by thermogravimetric analysis disclosed outstanding stability with
10% weight loss temperature values reaching 800 °C. Iodine adsorption
tests revealed remarkable results, particularly for BCP2, which demonstrated a strong affinity toward iodine reaching an
uptake of 2900 mg g–1. Additionally, recyclability
tests showcased the effective regeneration of BCP2 after
several successive iodine adsorption–desorption cycles.