Boronate assemblies covalently linked

One of the unique architectural motifs that truly relies on the covalent yet reversible nature of boronate ester formation is the creation of complex hierarchical structures referred to as COFs. If boronate ester formation can be used to obtain discrete macrocyclic structures, it is then reasonable to expect that linked macrocyclic networks may be generated. These networks assemble... 

In Chapter 6, B. M. Rombo et al. delve into the formation of boronate-linked supramolecular architectures based on boronate ester formation—for example, small molecule diesters form supramolecular self-assemblies in the solid state based on a phenyl-boron-phenyl sandwich motif in which these small oligomers link together to generate macrocycles and other polymers. The polymeric macrocyclics and linear structures demonstrate self-repair capabilities and constitute a new class of wide band-gap semiconducting materials. Through the incorporation of polyvalent boronates, covalent organic frameworks are described, which create highly crystalline, porous network materials. 

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