Highly efficient heterogeneous aqueous Kharasch reaction with an amphiphilic resin-supported ruthenium catalyst

An amphiphilic polystyrene-poly ethylene glycol (PS-PEG) resin-supported ruthenium complex was designed and prepared. The polymeric Ru complex was found to promote the transition metal-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition of halogenated compounds to olefins, the Kharasch reaction, in water under heterogeneous as well as AIBN-free conditions with a high level of atom economy to meet green chemical requirements.