Functional Polymeric Materials Based on Main-Group Elements.

The past decade has witnessed tremendous advances in the synthesis of polymers that contain elements from the main groups beyond those found in typical organic polymers. Unique properties that arise from dramatic differences in bonding and molecular geometry, electronic structure, and chemical reactivity, are exploited in diverse application fields. Herein we highlight recent advances in inorganic backbone polymers, discuss how Lewis acid/base functionalization of polymers results in unprecedented reactivity, and survey conjugated hybrids with unique electronic structures for sensor and device applications.