Copper loaded cross-linked poly(ionic liquid): robust heterogeneous catalyst in ppm amount

A novel heterogeneous copper catalyst was synthesized in which poly(1-vinyl imidazole-co-ionic liquid) was used as a solid heterogeneous support. The catalyst was readily synthesized in a large scale amount. The catalyst has a high loading level of copper ions and can be used in low weight percentages. The resulting catalyst was highly active in the preparation of triazoles by the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition method. In some cases the catalytic turnover number and frequency reached 70 002 and 3889 h(-1), respectively. The catalyst was recycled many times without significant loss of activity.