Anion Exchange Fuel Cell Membranes Prepared from C-H Borylation and Suzuki Coupling Reactions

作者：Mohanty Angela D; Lee Yeong Beom; Zhu Liang; Hickner Michael A; Bae Chulsung^*

来源：Macromolecules, 2014, 47(6): 1973-1980.

DOI：10.1021/ma500125t

Of the polymer materials investigated as anion exchange membranes, trimethylbenzylammonium-containing polysulfones are the most extensively studied. They are commonly prepared by chloromethylation of the aromatic backbone or radical bromination of benzylic carbons, followed by a Menshutkin reaction between a tertiary amine and the benzyl halide. To overcome synthetic limitations involved with these two methods, we report the preparation of an anion exchange membrane by means of iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation followed by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling. Owing to the use of mild reaction conditions and high efficiency of these metal-catalyzed reactions, we were able to minimize side reactions and easily control the degree of functionalization for a series of trimethylbenzylammonium-containing polysulfones. The resulting membranes exhibited lower water uptake while maintaining similar hydroxide conductivity and functional group stability as compared to the corresponding chloromethylation-prepared anion exchange membrane materials.

• 出版日期2014-3-25