Functional emulsion-templated porous polymers by macromolecular surfactant anchoring strategies

Macroporous polymer monoliths with interconnected structures have attracted considerable interest in the fields of supported catalysis, chromatography, water purification, etc. A popular and straightforward synthesis approach for such open-cell polymers is based on the polymerization of high internal phase emulsion (HIPE). Advanced functional polyHIPEs were also produced via different post-modification strategies but the latter often consists in tedious multi-step processes. This communication aims at reporting an efficient one-pot macromolecular surfactant-assisted method for the simultaneous synthesis and chemical functionalization of macroporous polyHIPEs. Briefly, amphiphilic block copolymers prepared by nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP) or reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) were used as HIPE stabilizers and grafted at the surface of the walls of polyHIPE during the polymerization process. The impact of the controlled radical polymerization mechanism on the porous structure, openness and functionalization of the monoliths will be discussed. This strategy was also implemented with alkyne-terminated copolymers in order to decorate the surface of the polyHIPE’s cavities with “clickable” moieties which broadens the scope of functional macroporous polymers.