Constructing Robust Covalent Organic Frameworks via Multicomponent Reactions

Methodology development of robust linkages is fundamentally important for the synthesis and application of covalent organic frameworks (COFs). We report herein a new strategy based on multicomponent reactions (MCRs) to construct ultrastable COFs. With the one-pot formation of five covalent bonds in each cyclic joint, a series of imidazole-linked COFs were robustly constructed through the Debus-Radziszewski MCR from three easily available components. By reaching a higher level of complexity and precision in covalent assembly, this research explores a new direction in integrating sophisticated reversible/irreversible reactions to construct crystalline porous frameworks.