Synthesis and properties of organic microporous polymers from the monomer of hexaphenylbenzene based triptycene

An expanded triptycene (hexaphenylbenzene based triptycene) monomer was synthesized from triiodotriptycene. Using this monomer, two kinds of organic microporous polymers HTPs (HTP-A and HTP-B) were prepared by Friedel–Crafts and Scholl reactions. Their structure and properties were characterized by FT-IR, solid 13C NMR, powder XRD, SEM, TEM and gas absorption. Nitrogen sorption analysis displayed that the BET surface areas are 569 and 914 m2 g−1 for HTP-A and HTP-B, respectively. For HTP-B, they can reversibly absorb 1.09 wt % H2 (1.0 bar and 77 K) and 10.3 wt% CO2 (1.0 bar and 273 K), respectively. [Display omitted] •Hexaphenylbenzene based triptycenes were used as monomer to synthesize HTPs.•Two low-cost Friedel–Crafts and Scholl reactions were used to synthesize HTPs.•HTP-B displays high CO2 uptake capacity of 10.3 wt %.