Functional Covalent Organic Frameworks Microspheres Synthesized by Self-limited Dynamic Linker Exchange for Stationary Phases.

Synthesizing uniform functional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) microspheres is the prerequisite of applying COFs as novel stationary phases for liquid chromatography. However, the synthesis of functionalized COFs microspheres is challenging due to the difficulty in maintaining microspheric morphology when conferring functions. Here, we develop a facile and universal "self-limited dynamic linker exchange" strategy to achieve surface functionalization of uniform COFs microspheres. Six different types of COFs microspheres are constructed, showing the universality and superiority of the strategy. The library of COFs micro-spheres stationary phases can be further enriched on demand by varying different functional building blocks. The "self-limited dynamic linker exchange" is attributed to the result of a delicate balance of reaction thermodynamics and molecular diffusion energy barrier. As a demonstration, the chiral functional COFs microspheres are used as stationary phases of chiral chromatography and realized effective enantioseparation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.