Vanadium Complexes Based Polymer Supported Catalysts: A Brief Account of Research from Our Group

Solid supported catalysts can go a long way in developing catalyst based technology because of their high efficiency with recyclability and easy separation from the reaction mixture. Immobilizations of homogeneous catalysts through covalent bond with chloromethylated polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene and develop them as environmentally safe heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation reaction have attracted attention in recent years. Recently, effort from our research laboratory was to synthesize new recyclable polymer-supported vanadium complexes based heterogeneous catalysts. Thus, chloromethylated polystyrene cross linked with 5% divinylbenzene was used as support to prepare variety of polymer supported vanadium catalysts. These catalysts have successfully been used for the oxidation and oxidative bromination of various organic substrates. Keeping in mind the industrial usage of these heterogeneous catalysts, the leaching and recycle ability of all polymer-supported catalysts have also been tested. Most catalysts are stable and do not leach during the catalytic reactions.