A pyridinyl-phenanzine conjugated microporous polymer decorated with ultrafine Ag nanoparticles mediates the rapid reduction of nitrophenol

In this study we used classical Suzuki polycondensation to prepare a pyridinyl-phenanzine (TPPQP) conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) that featured a spherical morphology with a large surface area (371 m² g⁻¹) and high thermal stability (T_d10 = 625 °C; char yield = 81.7 wt%). The framework of the TPPQP CMP presented many dynamic pyridinic units could capture Ag⁺ ions from solution and facilitate their self-reduction to Ag nanoparticles, thereby forming Ag@TPPQP CMP nanocatalysts. The Ag@TPPQP CMP nanocatalysts were strong reducing agents for pollutant nitrophenols, converting them into safe amino forms at standard temperature and pressure with a high normalized rate of 19.4 mg⁻¹ s⁻¹. The pyridinic units in the TPPQP CMP structure played an important role in the catalytic reaction, interacting with the phenolic OH groups of p-nitrophenol to accelerate the reduction.