Using soluble polymers in latent biphasic systems.
A new strategy for carrying out reactions with a soluble polymer-bound reagent or catalyst is described. In this latent biphasic process, a solvent mixture at the cusp of immiscibility is prepared and used to carry out a reaction under homogeneous conditions. Then, after the reaction is complete, this mixture is perturbed by the addition of solvent or some other perturbing agent to produce a biphasic mixture. The product-containing phase is then separated under liquid/liquid conditions from the polymer-containing phase. The generality of this process is demonstrated using both dye-labeled polymers as surrogates for polymer-bound catalysts and with various polymer-bound organic and transition metal catalysts or reagents. In cases where a polymeric catalyst is used, the addition of fresh solvent and substrate reforms the original mixture allowing facile reuse of the catalyst.
Bergbreiter
David E
DE
Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, P.O. Box 30012, College Station 77842-3012, USA. bergbreiter@tamu.edu
Osburn
Philip L
PL
Smith
Thomas
T
Li
Chunmei
C
Frels
Jonathon D
JD