Facile construction of fully sp2-carbon conjugated two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks containing benzobisthiazole units

Developing a facile strategy for the construction of vinylene-linked fully π-conjugated covalent organic frameworks (COFs) remains a huge challenge. Here, a versatile condition of Knoevenagel polycondensation for constructing vinylene-linked 2D COFs was explored. Three new examples of vinylene-linked 2D COFs (BTH-1, 2, 3) containing benzobisthiazoles units as functional groups were successfully prepared under this versatile and mild condition. The electron-deficient benzobisthiazole units and cyano-vinylene linkages were both integrated into the π conjugated COFs skeleton and acted as acceptor moieties. Interestingly, we found the construction of a highly ordered and conjugated D-A system is favorable for photocatalytic activity. BTH-3 with benzotrithiophene as the donor with a strong D-A effect exhibited an attractive photocatalytic HER of 15.1 mmol h−1g−1 under visible light irradiation.