Supercritical CO2 mediated functionalization of highly porous emulsion-derived foams: ScCO2 absorption and epoxidation

Highly macroporous polymers based on dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) have been successfully functionalized via a supercritical CO2 method aimed at minimizing the usage of organic solvents typically necessary for functionalization of polymers. The macroporous morphology of DCPD-based polyHIPEs resists the high pressures and the material exhibits an unusually high uptake of scCO2 at zero swelling. The scCO2 treatment creates additional mesoporosity, facilitating for the functionalisation within the void walls. The use of scCO2 as a solvent in the Prileschajew epoxidation and consecutive epoxide aminolysis of such epoxidized polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) monoliths is described. The procedure yields a high degree of functionalization with up to 6 mmol of β-amino alcohol derivatives per g of polymer.