A Chiral Microporous Polymer Network as Asymmetric Heterogeneous Organocatalyst

Microporous polymer networks, composed of structure-directing monomers (tectons), can exhibit high permanent surface area and porosity. By choice of suitable tectons various functionalities can be introduced into such networks. Here we introduce chiral BINOL derivatives as novel tectons to generate microporosity in polymer networks. The use of such monomers enables the formation of networks composed solely out of enantiomerically pure compounds. This porous network can be used as a heterogeneous organocatalyst in asymmetric reactions and gives higher enantioselectivty than the homogeneous reaction.