Cross-linked arylimidazolium polymers and uses thereof

A crosslinked polymer membrane, comprising a crosslinked arylimidazolium polymer, wherein:

• the crosslinked arylimidazolium polymer comprises a plurality of arylimidazolium polymer chains and one or more crosslinking moiety,
• each arylimidazolium polymer chain of the plurality of arylimidazolium polymer chains comprises a plurality of repeat units, wherein each repeat unit is independently selected from Formula (IV):
• wherein R1XY, R2XY, R4XY, and R5XY are each independently selected from absent, alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, and a crosslinking moiety,
• provided that:
• at least one of R1XY and R2XY is selected from alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, and aralkyl,
• when one of R1XY and R2XY is absent, the imidazolyl group to which the absent R1XY or R2XY is connected (i.e., the imidazolyl group having one of R1XY or R2XY, but not the other) is neutral,
• at least one of R4XY and R5XY is selected from alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, and aralkyl, and
• when one of R4XY and R5XY is absent, the imidazolyl group to which the absent R4XY or R5XY is connected (i.e., the imidazolyl group having one of R4XY or R5XY, but not the other) is neutral;
• R3XY and R6XY are each independently selected from alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, and heteroaryl;
• R15XY is selected from alkylene, perfluoroalkylene, heteroalkylene, arylene, aralkylene, and heteroarylene, each optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 substituents independently selected from alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, and halo;
• R16XY is selected from a bond, arylene, and heteroarylene, wherein said arylene and heteroarylene is each optionally substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 substituents independently selected from alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, and halo;
• R7XY, R10XY, R11XY, and R14XY are each independently selected from H, alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, and heteroalkyl;
• and
• R8XY, R9XY, R12XY, and R13XY are each independently selected from hydrogen (H), alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, and heteroalkyl.

A crosslinked polymer membrane, comprising a crosslinked arylimidazolium polymer, wherein:

• the crosslinked arylimidazolium polymer comprises a plurality of arylimidazolium polymer chains and one or more crosslinking moiety,
• each arylimidazolium polymer chain of the plurality of arylimidazolium polymer chains comprises a plurality of repeat units, wherein each repeat unit is independently selected from Formula (VIII):
• wherein:
• R1XX is independently selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, trifluoromethyl, alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, alkoxy, perfluoroalkoxy, halo, aryl, heteroaryl group, a crosslinking moiety, and a polymer chain;
• R2XX is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, any group, and a polymer chain;
• R3XX is independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, trifluoromethyl, alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, alkyl, a polymer chain, and absent;
• and
• R5XX is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, any group, and a polymer chain;
• and
• wherein at least one of R1XX, R2XX, R3XX, and R5XX, is a polymer chain.