Post-synthetic pi-extension of perylene conjugated porous polymer via APEX reactions: tunable optical and gas storage properties

Double post-synthetic modification is used for the pi-extension of perylene based conjugated porous polymers (CPPs) using sequential annulative pi-extension (APEX) reactions. This approach enabled us to synthesize new CPPs rendered with donor-acceptor rigid pi-systems such as benzoperylene anhydride (BPA-CPP) and benzoperylene benzimidazole (BPBI-CPP) with distinct optical properties. Despite its low surface area, BPBI-CPP shows good CO2 uptake and pH responsive behaviour owing to the presence of benzimidazole rings.