Development of Polymeric Metal Catalysts via Molecular Convolution and of Catalytic Membrane-Installed Microflow Devices

Highly active and reusable solid-phase catalysts were developed with our 'molecular convolution methodology' where a soluble linear polymer having multiple ligand groups was convoluted with transition metals via coordinative or ionic complexation to achieve the one-step preparation of the insoluble polymeric metal composite. These convoluted polymeric-palladium nanoparticles, -phosphotungstate salt, and -palladium complex promoted the organic transformations with high reusability to give the corresponding products quantitatively. Moreover, instantaneous catalytic cross-coupling reactions were achieved in the catalytic membrane-installed microchannel devices having a polymeric palladium complex membrane. The catalytic membrane-installed microchannel devices were installed inside the microchannels via the molecular convolution at the interface between the organic and aqueous phases flowing laminarly. The microflow device-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction was performed at 50 degrees C to give the product quantitatively within 5 sec of residence time. They were applied to the allylic arylation at 70 degrees C to afford the corresponding products quantitatvely within 1 sec of residence time.