Side functionalization of diboronic acid precursors for covalent organic frameworksElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3ce26494g

A series of substituted 1,4-benzenediboronic acids (BDBA) was synthesized and their thermal properties investigated. Two diboronic acids were studied as building-blocks for covalent organic framework (COF) formation, namely 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzenediboronic acid and 2-nitro-1,4-benzeneboronic acid. Interestingly, substitution of the BDBA core caused a dramatic decrease of the polymerization temperature leading to the formation of a less organized structure. A series of substituted 1,4-benzenediboronic acids (BDBA) was synthesized and their thermal properties investigated.