On surface polymerization with amines

The formation of porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) on metal surfaces has potential application in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. The use of polymerization reactions involving amines is particularly attractive as it leads to polymers with functional groups in the pore walls. This functionality can directly provide hydrogen bonding sites or can be utilized to synthetically graft more complex functionality onto the pore walls. Amine polymerization to form surface confined COFs has been reported under ultrahigh vacuum conditions as well as at the gas-solid and liquid-solid interfaces. Most studies have focused on less reactive surfaces. The factors influencing the surface chemistry of these systems will be discussed, and approaches will be described which target the formation of high-quality sCOFs on metals which have higher catalytic activity.