The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

The efficient utilization of CO2 as a sustainable carbon feedstock is an important strategy for addressing climate change and developing value-added materials. Herein, we present novel starpolymer catalysts designed for the CO2 cycloaddition reaction under ambient conditions. By tuning the density of nucleophilic units near the porphyrin core, we demonstrate how molecular architecture strongly influences catalytic activity. A porphyrin core surrounded by a high density of nucleophiles exhibits superior catalytic activity for cyclic carbonate production from CO2, under ambient reaction conditions. In addition, the temperature-responsive phase transition of these starpolymers allows easy recovery by filtration. This study emphasizes the role of precise molecular design in polymer-based catalysis and provides insights into structure–activity relationships, offering a promising platform for next-generation catalysts and a sustainable green economy.