Swollen-induced in-situ encapsulation of chiral silver catalysts in cross-linked polysiloxane elastomers: Homogeneous reaction and heterogeneous separation

The immobilization of molecular catalysts to fabricate heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic asymmetric transformations is extremely important and has attracted great attentions. Herein we developed a simple and new strategy for the heterogenization of homogeneous molecular complexes into the cross-linked polymer. It is demonstrated for the first time that the cross-linked polysiloxane elastomers can be applied for the swolleninduced in-situ encapsulation of homogeneous catalysts with or without chiral ligands. The swollen-induced in-situ encapsulation of silver catalyst system in the cross-linked polysiloxane elastomers led to the formation of silicone rubber-based hierarchically porous that could be used in asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition, asymmetric tandem conjugate addition-elimination reaction and oxidation of hydrosilanes to silanols. The swollen-induced in-situ encapsulation of chiral silver complex in the cross-linked polysiloxane elastomers was proved to be easily recycled by filtration or pick-up and reused by several times. The simplest heterogeneous catalysis by the strategy of swollen-induced in-situ encapsulation can be extended to the encapsulation of chiral metal catalysts into different polymeric materials for the heterogenization of homogeneous catalysis.

Automated summary

The method of heterogeneous catalysis achieved through swollen-induced in-situ encapsulation can immobilize homogeneous catalysts in cross-linked polymers, allowing for the reusability of inorganic catalysts and showing high potential for practical applications.