SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF ORGANOPHILIC POLYSTYRENE-MONTMORILLONITESUPPORTED ONIUM SALTS IN ORGANIC-REACTIONS

Copolymers of styrene and chloromethylstyrene containing 2% ammonium s alt groups have been grafted onto montmorillonite interlayers by catio n exchange process. The remaining chloromethyl groups were modified to produce phosphonium salts. The catalytic activities of the phosphoniu m moieties supported on polystyrene-montmorillonite have been investig ated in thiocyanate and nitrite nucleophilic reactions. The effectiven ess of these catalysts has been examined under the effects of several factors governing the reactions rates such as the chemical composition of polymers backbone, chemical nature of the active moiety, degree of loading, nature of the solvent, and reaction temperature.