FUNCTIONALIZED ETHYLENE OLIGOMERS AS PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYSTS

Ethylene oligomers with Mv in the range 10003000 containing terminal groups such as crown ethers, azacrown ethers, and phosphonium salts have been prepared and used as phase-transfer catalysts. These oligomeric catalysts have solubility properties similar to polyethylene in that they are insoluble at 25 C but dissolve in organic solutions at elevated (90110 C) temperatures. Such oligomeric phase-transfer catalysts have activities comparable to their low molecular weight congeners and to activities reported for insoluble polystyrene-bound phase-transfer catalysts. After these oligomeric catalysts have been used in a reaction at 100 C, they can be readily separated from the reaction products by cooling to form a precipitate, which can then be isolated by filtration. Such catalysts may be reused without loss of activity. These catalysts are also effective in solid-liquid phase-transfer reactions in which an inorganic solid is suspended in a hot organic solution containing catalyst and substrate. 1985, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

FUNCTIONALIZED ETHYLENE OLIGOMERS AS PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYSTS Academic Article