UV-induced room temperature synthesis of microporous ladder polymers with efficient photosensitization

Microporous ladder polymers (MLPs) represent a beneficial combination of porosities and processability for advanced separation and catalysis. Yet MLPs synthesis is halted by tedious condensation reactions , excessive catalysts and limited choices of monomers . The work reports the first example of room temperature synthesis of MLPs (PAnTB) through photopolymerization of contorted bisanthracene monomers under 365 nm light irradiation , being catalyst-free and atom-economy. PAnTB highlight intrinsically microporous properties (specific surface area : 554 m 2  g −1 ) and efficient photosensitization for the generation of singlet oxygen. This work opens the door to light-induced synthesis of MLPs with enriched monomer structures and functionalities, such as the metal-free degradation of organic contaminants using PAnTB alone under visible-light.