COF-300 synthesis and colloidal stabilization with substituted benzoic acids
Woojung Ji, D Kim, Brendan M. Posson, Kyla J. Carlson, A. Chew, Alyssa J. Chew, Meherin Hossain, Alexis F. Mojica, Sachi M. Ottoes, Donna V. Tran, Matthew W. Greenberg, Leslie S. Hamachi
Abstract
H NMR model compound studies to probe the impact of catalyst acidity on the imine condensation equilibrium. We observe cationically stabilized colloids with a zeta potential of up to +14.35 mV in benzonitrile as a result of the carboxylic acid catalyst protonating surface amine groups. We leverage these surface chemistry insights to synthesize small COF-300 colloids using sterically hindered diortho-substituted carboxylic acid catalysts. This fundamental study of COF-300 colloid synthesis and surface chemistry will provide new insights into the role of acid catalysts both as imine condensation catalysts and as colloid stabilizing agents.