The preparation and use of boron trifluoride poly (p-methoxystyrene) etherate : a new supported phase homogeneous catalyst

The preparation and use of a new heterogeneous catalyst with homogeneous properties was undertaken. The catalyst made and studied was the boron trifluoride complex of poly(p-methoxystyrene).

The polymer for the catalyst was obtained by thermal and free radical polymerization of p-methoxystyrene. The polymer was dissolved and boron trifluoride gas was bubbled through the solution. The resulting complexed polymer was then precipitated and dried.

In order to use the catalyst effectively, the amount of BF2 attached to the polymer backbone had to be determined. This was attempted by the following methods: (a) NMR, which proved ineffective due to the model compounds freezing in the NMR tubes before an integration curve could be established. (b) U.V., which also failed since the anisole center had adsorptivity orders of magnitude greater than the BF, in the same regions. (c) Titration with a pH meter, which

The utility of the polymeric catalyst was evaluated for rearrangement reactions, specifically that of 1-octene to 2-octene, and of limonene epoxide to dihydrocarvone. The catalyst was also used for preparation of the symmetrical ether from dicyclopropyl carbinol. Yields were achieved using this new catalyst, which were higher than those previously seen for the same reactions.

Along with testing productivity, experiments were done to examine polymer complex solubility and selectivity changes when using a crosslinked polymer backbone as a support.

Enhanced properties were noticed in ease of catalyst separation, handling, and in catalytic site protection. The major problem was determined to be polymer backbone rearrangement which led to the impossibility of rejuvenation and difficulties in solubility.