Abstract
Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) are versatile materials with a wide range of applications, notably gas separation membranes. PIMs are synthesized via polycondensation. For PIM-1, the first synthesized type of PIM, the most established synthesis route involves tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile (TFTPN) and 5,5′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-1,1′-spirobisindane (TTSBI) in dimethylformamide (DMF) with potassium carbonate (K2CO3) as a base. Although this synthesis method is well-studied, concerns about sustainability and toxicity persist. Substituting problematic substances while retaining product proper-ties is challenging due to the complex heterogenic synthesis process were also the solubility of the synthesized polymer changes with the growth of the polymer chain.
