Catalysis by metal nanoparticles supported on functionalized polymers

This contribution is a brief review dealing with metal catalysts prepared o n functionalized polymers. The following topics will be touched: i) prepara tion and properties of metal catalysts based on functionalized polymers; ii ) methods for the characterization of these catalysts; iii) effect of mass transport phenomena on the overall rate of a process and on the selectivity in complex reaction systems; iv) deactivation of the polymer-based catalys ts; v) applications - selective hydrogenations, one-pot synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone, removal of nitrates from water. A particular attention is paid to the comparison of polymer-based metal catalysts with those support ed on inorganic materials. The mechanical and chemical stability vs. the ac tivity and the cost of the catalysts are discussed. The emphasis will be pu t on the main advantages of polymer-based catalysts, stemming from easily c ontrolled micro- or macroporous nature and hydrophobic-hydrophilic properti es, from the possibility to attach various special functional groups, preci se and well defined metal loading and metal distribution in the final catal yst. In the part describing the methods for the characterization of metal p olymer-based catalysts, the techniques as evaluation of the mobility on the basis of electron spin resonance and pulse field gradient spin echo NMR wi ll be discussed.