Catalyst-Free Click Polymerization of CO2 and Lewis Monomers for Recyclable C1 Fixation and Release

Conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemicals in gentle conditions is a great challenge in sustainable and energy chemistry. Here we report a CO2-participated polymerization using frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) as the monomer, which allows us to obtain well-defined CO2/FLP alternating copolymers with high molecular weights (similar to 50000) and quantitative conversions (similar to 95%), resembling a "click" polymerization of CO2 gas and FLP molecules. In comparison to other CO2-based polymerizations, this method features spontaneity, catalyst-free, and speediness, as well as can realize in ambient temperature (20 degrees C) and low CO2 pressure conditions (1.0 atm). Moreover, owing to the dynamic covalent bonding between CO2 and FLP unit, such a class of alternating copolymers upon heating can depolymerize into initial monomers and release CO2, which could make them as recyclable smart materials for reversible C1 fixation and release.