POLYMER-Cu CATALYSTS FOR OXIDATIVE POLYMERIZATION OF PHENOL DERIVATIVES.

Catalytically active polymers can be obtained if one combines a metal complex with a polymer backbone, and it is reasonable to assume that the metal catalyst bound to the polymer will show a specific behavior, reflecting the properties of the polymer-chain. Indeed many polymer-metal complexes have been found to exhibit high efficiency in catalysis. In the present paper, the authors selected the oxidative polymerization of phenol derivatives as a model reaction in which a polymer-Cu complex acts as catalyst under mild conditions. The complex homogeneously catalyzes the reaction, and the reaction proceeds via the intermediate substrate-coordinated complex, so that the effect of polymer complex is expected to be clearly observed in the catalysis. Cu ions are combined to following polymers: poly(4-vinylpyridine), partially quaternized PVP with ethylbromide, copolymer of styrene and 4-vinylpyridine, poly(N-vinylimidazole), copolymer of N-vinylimidazole and N-vinylpyrrolidone, and copolymer of styrene and N-vinylimidazole. In experiments, polymer-ligands were prepared by radical polymerization. The oxidation rates of phenols were determined by measuring oxygen uptake or visible absorption of the products. The rate constants of elementary reactions were evaluated by spectroscopically. Results are discussed in terms of reaction mechanisms possible.