Ionic-Liquid-Grafted Rigid Poly (p-Phenylene) Microspheres: Efficient Heterogeneous Media for Metal Scavenging and Catalysis

Novel guanidinium ionic liquid-grafted rigid poly(p-phenylene) (PPIL) microspheres have been developed for metal scavenging and catalysis. The noble-metal nanoparticles supported on the microspheres surface can be used as efficient heterogeneous catalysts. The combination of nanoparticles and ionic liquid fragments on the microsphere surfaces enhance the activity and durability of the catalyst. The PPPIL-Pd-0 catalyst has been tested in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction, and exhibits much higher catalytic activity than Pd catalysts supported on porous polymer matrices. The PPPIL.Pd-0 catalyst can be recycled at least for nine runs without any significant loss of activity. Tie present approach may, therefore, have potential applications in transition-metal-nanocatalyzed reactions.