Synthesis and catalytic applications of mesoporous polymer colloids in olefin hydrosilylation

Mesoporous polymer particles (MPPs) have been synthesized by using the spherical microparticles of siliceous mesocellular foam (MCF) as a hard template. The MPPs possessed a robust structure with ultralarge mesopores, and a clean and inert surface. The surface properties of the MPPs could be tailored for various applications by using different functionalized monomers. An imidazolium-pyrrolidine ligand was successfully immobilized onto MPPs and used as a supported platinum organometallic catalyst in olefin hydrosilylation. The MPP-supported catalyst provided superior activity and selectivity for this reaction as compared to the MCF-supported catalyst.