α-Fe2O3/Attapulgite-mediated reaction of benzyl chloride: Synthesis of poly(phenylene methylene)

Thermostable and fluorescent poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) was synthesized via α-Fe 2 O 3 /attapulgite (α-Fe 2 O 3 / A )-mediated polymerization of benzyl chloride (BC) in CCl 4 in good yields. A carbocationic mechanism was proposed based on the controlling experiment. The structure and properties of PPM were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, gel permeation chromatography, and UV–vis and fluorescence spectrometry. The results show that PPM possesses outstanding homoconjugation fluorescence and excellent thermal stability with onset decomposition temperature of ca. 420 °C. Recycled α-Fe 2 O 3 / A proved to be still highly active for BC polymerization. Moreover, the strategy features low-cost and readily accessible starting materials, simple one-pot operation, and recyclable catalyst, facilitating future applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56 , 2280–2285