Redefining Friedel-Crafts Porous Polymers: Complex Architecture from a Multifaceted Linker and Subsequent Engineering into Cation Exchanger

Redefining Friedel-Crafts Porous Polymers: Complex Architecture from a Multifaceted Linker and Subsequent Engineering into Cation Exchanger | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Redefining Friedel-Crafts Porous Polymers: Complex Architecture from a Multifaceted Linker and Subsequent Engineering into Cation Exchanger Zheng Bian, Yanzhe Shi, Wenbo Lu, Jikuan Qiu, Guangshan Zhu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8036205/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Friedel–Crafts porous polymers have conventionally been depicted as simple networks of aromatic units connected by aliphatic bridges. However, this structural representation fails to explain several inherent properties, such as marked hydrophilicity, strong visible-light absorption, and unexpectedly high product yields. The lack of commercial adoption further reflects the challenge in tuning material performance when the underlying chemical structure remains ambiguous. In this work, we overturn this simplistic model by revealing a more complex architecture arising from the multifaceted role of the linker reagent. Using elemental analysis, IR, NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that during AlCl₃-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts polymerization, CH₂Cl₂ serves not only as a crosslinker but also as a versatile molecular precursor, generating abundant one-carbon side groups and extended conjugated domains. This refined structural framework resolves the long-standing structure–property anomalies and redefines the chemical landscape of this widely studied polymer family. Building on this insight, we developed a metal-free solid-state thermal oxidation process that efficiently converts these side groups into carboxyl units under ambient air. The resulting carboxyl-rich materials exhibit exceptional cation-exchange capacities, comparable to those of commercial weak-acid cation-exchange resins, yet with negligible swelling during operation and minimal raw material costs. This work not only revises the chemical identity of a classic polymer family but also establishes a scalable and cost-effective design strategy toward sustainable separation and water purification technologies. Physical sciences/Chemistry/Polymer chemistry/Polymer synthesis Physical sciences/Chemistry/Materials chemistry/Metal–organic frameworks Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials for devices/Fluidics Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files nceesi.pdf Redefining Friedel-Crafts Porous Polymers: Complex Architecture from a Multifaceted Linker and Subsequent Engineering into Cation Exchanger Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8036205","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":540721358,"identity":"0d8b4787-4260-4f9a-911f-c060b77104cf","order_by":0,"name":"Zheng 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However, this structural representation fails to explain several inherent properties, such as marked hydrophilicity, strong visible-light absorption, and unexpectedly high product yields. The lack of commercial adoption further reflects the challenge in tuning material performance when the underlying chemical structure remains ambiguous. In this work, we overturn this simplistic model by revealing a more complex architecture arising from the multifaceted role of the linker reagent. Using elemental analysis, IR, NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that during AlCl₃-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts polymerization, CH₂Cl₂ serves not only as a crosslinker but also as a versatile molecular precursor, generating abundant one-carbon side groups and extended conjugated domains. This refined structural framework resolves the long-standing structure–property anomalies and redefines the chemical landscape of this widely studied polymer family. 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