SQUARIC ACID-BASED POLYMERS, THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND THEIR USES

1 . A process for producing a polymer, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) reacting monomeric units of Formulae II and III:

wherein,

Y is a leaving group, independently in each occurrence, selected from a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amine group and a lower alkoxy group, preferably Y is independently in each occurrence a chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom, amine group, hydroxyl group or lower alkoxy group; and

X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NR x ;

R 1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R 1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof;

R x is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl; and

q is an integer representing the number of XH groups within the monomeric unit of Formula III and is at least 2;

wherein the polymer is preferably produced by a polycondensation reaction; and

(b) isolating the polymer produced in step (a).

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the monomeric unit of Formula II is selected from 3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-dimethoxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-diethoxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-diisopropoxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-dibutoxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-diamino-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-dichloro-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, 3,4-dibromo-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione and 3,4-diiodo-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, or wherein the monomeric unit of Formula III is preferably selected from p-phenylenediamine (PPD), benzene-1,4-diol, 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 5,6-dihydroxycyclohex-5-ene-1,2,3,4-tetrone, tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-diamino-2,3-dihydroanthraquinone, and 4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-4-ene-1,2,3-trione.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (a) is carried out in the presence of:

(i) an organic base, the organic base preferably comprises a tertiary amine preferably selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, 2,6-lutidine and pyridine, more preferably pyridine; or

(ii) a Lewis acid preferably selected from the group consisting boron trifluoride etherate (BF 3 ·OEt 2 ), tin tetrachloride (SnCl 4 ), zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ) and a metal trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate), preferably wherein the metal trifluoromethanesulfonate is selected from the group consisting of scandium (III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (Sc(OTf) 3 ), magnesium trifluoromethanesulfonate (Mg(OTf) 2 ), cupric trifluoromethanesulfonate (Cu(OTf) 2 ) and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(OF) 2 ), more preferably zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (zinc triflate).

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (a) is carried out in the presence of a solvent and step (b) optionally further comprises eliminating the solvent by evaporation, preferably wherein the solvent is an organic polar aprotic solvent or a mixture comprising an organic polar aprotic solvent and a nonpolar solvent.

5 . A process for producing a polymer, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) reacting monomeric units of Formulae II and IV:

wherein,

Y is a leaving group is independently in each occurrence selected from a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom, preferably Y is in each occurrence a chlorine atom;

R 1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R 1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof;

Z is independently in each occurrence, selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a boronic acid, a boronic acid ester and a trialkyltin group, preferably Z is in each occurrence a chlorine atom or a bromine atom;

r is an integer representing the number of Z within the monomeric unit of Formula IV and is at least 2; and

wherein the monomeric unit of Formula IV is preferably selected from Formulae IV(a) to IV(o):

(b) isolating the polymer produced in step (a).

6 . The process of claim 5 , wherein step (a) further comprises a step of reacting the monomeric units of Formula II with magnesium thereby forming a Grignard reagent in situ before addition of the monomeric unit of Formula IV.

7 . The process of claim 5 , wherein step (a) is carried out in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst preferably comprises:

a transition metal or a compound comprising a transition metal or a coordination complex comprising a transition metal, the transition metal is preferably selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Co, Fe, Cr, Cu and Mn, more preferably Ni or Pd; and

further optionally comprises a trialkylphosphine or triphenylphosphine (PPh 3 ), tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), CuI or KF; or

wherein:

the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of NiCl 2 (bpy), NiBr 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 , PdCl 2 (bpy), Pd 2 (dba) 3 , Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , Pd(PPh 3 ) 2 Cl 2 , PdFeEt 2 (bpy) 2 , CrMeCl 2 (THF) 3 , Ni(COD)(PPh 3 ) 2 , Ni(COD) 2 (bpy), FeCl 2 , FeCl 3 and CoCl 2 , and preferably wherein the catalyst is a complex comprising Ni(COD)(PPh 3 ) 2 in a 1:2 ratio or a complex comprising Ni(COD) 2 , 1,5-cyclooctadiene nickel and bpy in a 1:1:1 ratio.

8 . The process of claim 5 , wherein step (a) is carried out in the presence of a solvent and step (b) further optionally comprises eliminating of the solvent by evaporation, wherein the solvent is preferably an organic polar aprotic solvent, preferably tetrahydrofuran (THF) or a nonpolar solvent, preferably toluene.

9 . An electrode material comprising a polymer of Formula I:

wherein,

n and m are integers representing the number of each monomeric units within the polymer, wherein n≥2 and m≥0;

X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NR x ;

p is an integer representing the number of X groups in each monomeric unit and is 0 or 1;

R 1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R 1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof; and

R x is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl.

10 . The electrode material of claim 9 , wherein the electrode material comprises an electrochemically active material and further optionally comprises a binder, an electronically conductive material, or a combination thereof.

11 . The electrode material of claim 9 , wherein the electrochemically active material is selected from the group consisting of metal oxide particles, lithiated metal oxide particles, metal phosphate particles and lithiated metal phosphate particles, preferably wherein the metal is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and a combination of at least two thereof, and more preferably the electrochemically active material comprises a transition metal oxide, wherein the transition metal is preferably selected from the group consisting of titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co).

12 . The electrode material of claim 9 , wherein the polymer is grafted on the electrochemically active material, or wherein the polymer is the binder or the electrochemically active material, or wherein both the electrochemically active material and the binder comprise the polymer

13 . A positive electrode comprising the electrode material as defined in claim 9 on a current collector.

14 . An electrolyte composition comprising a salt a polymer of Formula I:

wherein,

n and m are integers representing the number of each monomeric units within the polymer, wherein n≥2 and m≥0;

X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NR x ;

p is an integer representing the number of X groups in each monomeric unit and is 0 or 1;

R 1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R 1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6 -membered fused rings or combinations thereof; and R x is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl;

preferably said electrolyte composition is a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) composition or a gel electrolyte composition.

15 . An electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the positive electrode or electrolyte comprises a polymer of Formula I:

wherein,

n and m are integers representing the number of each monomeric units within the polymer, wherein n≥2 and m≥0;

X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NR x ;

p is an integer representing the number of X groups in each monomeric unit and is 0 or 1;

R 1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R 1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof; and

R x is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl;

preferably the negative electrode is an alkali metal film and more preferably a metallic lithium film or an alloy thereof.

16 . An electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is as defined in claim 14 , preferably the negative electrode is an alkali metal film and more preferably a metallic lithium film or an alloy thereof.

17 . A battery comprising at least one electrochemical cell as defined in claim 15 , wherein said battery is preferably selected from a lithium battery, a sodium battery, and a magnesium battery.

18 . A battery comprising at least one electrochemical cell as defined in claim 16 , wherein said battery is preferably selected from a lithium battery, a sodium battery, and a magnesium battery.

19 . An electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode as defined in claim 13 and an electrolyte, preferably the negative electrode is an alkali metal film and more preferably a metallic lithium film or an alloy thereof.

20 . A battery comprising at least one electrochemical cell as defined in claim 19 , wherein said battery is preferably selected from a lithium battery, a sodium battery, and a magnesium battery.