Reorganizable and stimuli-responsive polymers based on dynamic carbon–carbon linkages in diarylbibenzofuranones

The incorporation of dynamic bonds into polymer structures has endowed polymers with structurally reorganizable properties and stimuli-responsiveness. Their macroscopic responses are directly attributed to the nature of each dynamic bond. In this paper, we review the unique chemistry of diarylbibenzofuranone-based dynamic carbon–carbon covalent linkages that are under continuous equilibrium between dissociation and recombination at room temperature without any external stimulus, in polymers. Such polymers with the dynamic C–C bonds can show fascinating functions in response to mild stimuli as represented by self-healing and reversible stress-detection, although the continuous equilibrium should be regulated properly for each desired outcome by rational macromolecular design. This review highlights the potential of the dynamic C–C covalent chemistry for polymeric materials, particularly those used in the biomedical field because of its dynamic nature under mild conditions, and describes how to fully utilize it.