Influence of the support structure on the activity, stability, and metal leaching of a polymer-supported organotin chloride catalyst

Polymer-supported organotin chlorides have been synthesized by suspension c opolymerization of organotin-functionalized styrenic monomers using a preci pitating porogen. Their activities as reducing catalysts have been evaluate d in the reduction of bromoadamantane by sodium borohydride. The influence of the length of the spacer arm between the tin atom and the polymer backbo ne on the activity and the tin leaching of the supported catalyst have been studied. The nature of the alkyl groups (butyl or phenyl) attached on the tin atom plays an important role on the stability toward successive reuse o f the supported catalyst. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.