Catalyst-free amino-yne click polymerization toward functional polyamides

Polyamides, as a class of high-performance polymers, have been extensively employed in critical industrial sectors such as textile fibers, electronic encapsulation, and aerospace applications. However, their further development is constrained by challenges including harsh synthetic conditions, stringent raw material purity requirements, and environmental recalcitrance due to degradation resistance. In this study, we successfully established a catalyst-free amino-yne click polymerization system for the efficient synthesis of polyamides, achieving 100% atom economy alongside outstanding regioselectivity and stereochemical precision. This approach yielded polyamides with a uniform E-configuration and high weight-average molecular weights (Mw up to 14,700) in exceptional yields (up to 95%). Notably, the strategic incorporation of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) units endowed the resulting polymers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, enabling highly specific and sensitive detection of Au³⁺ ions with a detection limit (LOD) of 2.101×10⁻⁹ M. Additionally, the enamine bonds introduced into the polymer backbone via click polymerization exhibited dynamic behavior, facilitating amine exchange reactions that allowed rapid and controlled degradation of the material upon exposure to monoamine additives. Consequently, this study establishes a highly efficient catalyst-free amino-yne click polymerization methodology, offering innovative insights for the design and preparation of degradable and functionalized polyamide materials.