Reactive Porous Polymers for Detoxification of a Chemical Warfare Agent Simulant

Abstract

While polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) possess appealing features such as high surface area, good solubility, and tailorable functional groups on the polymer backbone, their ability to decompose toxic chemicals has not been explored. Here, an archetypal PIM, PIM-1, has been modified with various nucleophiles and investigated as a reactive, porous, and processable polymer for degradation of a chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant, dimethyl 4-nitrophenylphosphonate (DMNP). By quantitatively comparing the reactivity of multiple small-molecule nucleophile scaffolds as organophosphate scavengers, we identified potential nucleophiles to incorporate into PIMs. Among the nucleophiles carboxylic acid, amidoxime, and amide, the amidoxime-functionalized PIMs exhibited the most promising performance in detoxifying DMNP. Modified PIMs showed permanent porosity, which is crucial for accessing the reactive groups residing in the pores. With this study, we provide new insight into PIMs as a reactive material for the decontamination of CWAs with their potential use in protective gear such as suits and masks.