PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF POLYMER-SUPPORTED AMMONIUM AND PHOSPHONIUM SALTS IN OXIDATION OF BENZYL ALCOHOL WITH HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

Quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts, immobilized on polymeric sup port, were obtained by polymer-analogous reactions on 'gel-type' styre ne-divinylbenzene copolymers and by trans-quaternization of the ammoni um groups to phosphonium groups. Polymeric catalysts with degrees of f unctionalization of 0.15-2.78 mmole g(-1) were used in the oxidation o f benzyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide. The activity of the single -o nium salts increases as a consequence of association of ammonium and p hosphonium salts on the polymeric support. The activity of polymer-sup ported ammonium and phosphonium salts increases with the number of car bon atoms contained in the alkyl radicals of the -onium and of the fun ctionalization degree with phosphonium groups. Addition of RuCl3 . 3H( 2)O to the reaction media increases the activity of the phase-transfer catalysts.