Synthesis of sulfonated poly(diketonephenylene)s containing dibenzoyl moiety via Ni/Zn catalyst

A series of SPTBP were synthesized via Suzuki coupling reaction using nickel/phosphine/zinc catalyst with 1,2-bis(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3,6-diphenylbenzene and 2,5-dichloro-1,4-dibenzoylbenzne. The polymer had molecular weight (Mw) from 110,500 to 124,200. Compared with Nafion 211® membrane, these membranes showed IECs from 1.15 to 2.28 meq./g, water uptake from 10.19 to 61.22%, proton conductivity from 61.2 to 110.2 mS/cm, and high thermal stability. The clear microphase separation and inhomogeneity structured membranes had much higher proton conductivities, even higher than Nafion at high IEC values.402