Force-Induced Selective Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage in Mechanoresponsive Topochemical Polymers.

ABSTRACT: Mechanoresponsive polymeric materials that respond to mechanical deformation are highly valued for their potential in sensors, degradation studies, and optoelectronics. However, direct visualization and detection of these responses remain significant obstacles. In this study, novel mechanoresponsive polybiidenedionediyl (PBIT) derivative topochemical polymers are developed that depolymerize under mechanical forces, exhibiting a distinct and irreversible color change in response to grinding, milling, and compression. This color change is attributed to the alteration of polymer backbone conjugation during elongated Carbon-Carbon (C─C) single bond cleavage. Quantum chemical pulling simulations on PBIT polymers reveals a force range of 4.3-5.0 nN associated with the selective cleavage of elong

SUBMITTER: Wei Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12783939 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature