Ordered Mesoporous Polymers for Biomass Conversions and Cross-Coupling Reactions

Amino group-functionalized, ordered mesoporous polymers (OMP-NH2) were prepared using a solvent-free synthesis by grinding mixtures of solid raw precursors (aminophenol, terephthaldehyde), using block copolymer templates, and curing at 140-180 degrees C. OMP-NH2 was functionalized with acidic sites and incorporated with palladium, giving multifunctional solid catalysts with large Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas, abundant and ordered mesopores, good thermal stabilities, controllable concentrations, and good dispersion of active centers. The resultant solid catalysts showed excellent catalytic activities and good reusability in biomass conversions and cross-coupling reactionsmuch superior to those of various reported solid catalysts such as Amberlyst 15, SBA-15-SO3H, and Pd/C and comparable to those of homogeneous catalysts such as heteropoly acid, HCl, and palladium acetate. A facile green approach was developed for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous polymeric solid catalysts with excellent activities for conversion of low-cost feedstocks into useful chemicals and clean biofuels.