Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials

Abstract Dynamic covalent chemistry, which renders reusable and degradable thermoset polymers, is a promising tool for solving the global problem of plastic pollution. Although dynamic covalent chemistry can construct dynamic polymer networks, it rarely introduces other functions into polymers, whic...

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Main Authors: Zeyu Ma, Siyu Pan, Yang Yang, Yuan Zeng, Bo Wang, Yen Wei, Lei Tao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59027-3
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author Zeyu Ma
Siyu Pan
Yang Yang
Yuan Zeng
Bo Wang
Yen Wei
Lei Tao
author_facet Zeyu Ma
Siyu Pan
Yang Yang
Yuan Zeng
Bo Wang
Yen Wei
Lei Tao
author_sort Zeyu Ma
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dynamic covalent chemistry, which renders reusable and degradable thermoset polymers, is a promising tool for solving the global problem of plastic pollution. Although dynamic covalent chemistry can construct dynamic polymer networks, it rarely introduces other functions into polymers, which limits the development of dynamic functional materials. Herein, we develop heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry and demonstrate the reversibility of the aza-Michael addition reaction between functional heterocycle dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thione and electron-deficient olefins. Our method produces a degradable linear polymer and recyclable and self-healable crosslinked polymers similar to traditional dynamic covalent chemistry, but the heterocycles endow the polymer with excellent ultraviolet-blocking and high-energy blue light-blocking abilities, and tunable fluorescence and phosphorescence properties. These are difficult to create with ordinary dynamic covalent chemistry. This proof-of-concept study provides insights into heterocycle-based dynamic reactions, and may prompt the development of dynamic chemistry and dynamic functional materials.
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issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-77bda7a7a8a245c4a057dc0a7db8bf7e2025-08-20T02:28:09ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-59027-3Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materialsZeyu Ma0Siyu Pan1Yang Yang2Yuan Zeng3Bo Wang4Yen Wei5Lei Tao6The Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua UniversityThe Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua UniversityInstitute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua UniversityThe Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua UniversityInstitute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesThe Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua UniversityThe Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Dynamic covalent chemistry, which renders reusable and degradable thermoset polymers, is a promising tool for solving the global problem of plastic pollution. Although dynamic covalent chemistry can construct dynamic polymer networks, it rarely introduces other functions into polymers, which limits the development of dynamic functional materials. Herein, we develop heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry and demonstrate the reversibility of the aza-Michael addition reaction between functional heterocycle dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thione and electron-deficient olefins. Our method produces a degradable linear polymer and recyclable and self-healable crosslinked polymers similar to traditional dynamic covalent chemistry, but the heterocycles endow the polymer with excellent ultraviolet-blocking and high-energy blue light-blocking abilities, and tunable fluorescence and phosphorescence properties. These are difficult to create with ordinary dynamic covalent chemistry. This proof-of-concept study provides insights into heterocycle-based dynamic reactions, and may prompt the development of dynamic chemistry and dynamic functional materials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59027-3
spellingShingle Zeyu Ma
Siyu Pan
Yang Yang
Yuan Zeng
Bo Wang
Yen Wei
Lei Tao
Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
Nature Communications
title Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
title_full Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
title_fullStr Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
title_full_unstemmed Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
title_short Heterocycle-based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
title_sort heterocycle based dynamic covalent chemistry for dynamic functional materials
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59027-3
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AT siyupan heterocyclebaseddynamiccovalentchemistryfordynamicfunctionalmaterials
AT yangyang heterocyclebaseddynamiccovalentchemistryfordynamicfunctionalmaterials
AT yuanzeng heterocyclebaseddynamiccovalentchemistryfordynamicfunctionalmaterials
AT bowang heterocyclebaseddynamiccovalentchemistryfordynamicfunctionalmaterials
AT yenwei heterocyclebaseddynamiccovalentchemistryfordynamicfunctionalmaterials
AT leitao heterocyclebaseddynamiccovalentchemistryfordynamicfunctionalmaterials