CATALYSIS BY POLYMER-BOUND RH-6 CARBONYL CLUSTERS SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF CARBONYL-COMPOUNDS IN THE PRESENCE OF CO AND H2O

Functionalized polystyrenes were prepared by treatment of chloromethyl ated polystyrene with aminoalcohols. Using the functionalized polystyr enes and Rh-6(CO)(16), polymer-bound Rh cluster complexes were obtaine d in the presence of CO and H2O, which showed high catalytic activitie s for hydrogenation of aldehydes to corresponding alcohols. Activities for the hydrogenation depend on the length of spacers, and on basicit y and hydrophilicity of the polymers. An active species for the hydrog enation was a hydride cluster anion of [Rh-6(CO)(15)H](-), bound to th e aminated polymer through ionic bonding with ammonium cation in the p olymer. Using the polymer-bound Rh cluster catalysts, the hydrogenatio n occurred in a triphase system, which makes work-up procedures simple . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.