Effects of polymer supporters and structures of polymer-bound-2,2 '-bipyridine-copper(II) complexes on the catalytic oxidation properties

Oxidation of alkylbenzenes to aryl alcohols and ketones with high selectivi ty and reactivity by linear polystyrene (PS)- and polystyrene-2% divinyl be nzene (DVB)-bound-copper(II) complexes PS-bipy-Cu, PS-bipy-Cu-bipy, PS-bipy -Cu-phen, and PS-2%DVB-bipy-Cu (where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine and phen-1,10- phenanthroline) was studied. The oxidation reaction was carried out in the presence of molecular oxygen in the absence of solvent at 110 +/- 5 degrees C. The reaction rate depends on the nature of the electric and steric effe cts of the substrates, the complex structure, and the polymer matrices.