Macroreticular redox polymers. I. Hydroquinone–quinone redox polymers

Abstract

AbstractRedox polymers based upon the hydroquinone–quinone redox system are prepared by the addition of hydroquinone and hydroquinone derivatives to preformed polystyrene matrices. Conventional gel and macroreticular styrene–divinylbenzene copolymers were chloromethylated with chloromethyl ether by using a Friedel‐Crafts catalyst and the reaction products were treated, by a second Friedel‐Crafts reaction, with hydroquinone, benzoquinone, or alkyl homologs of these materials or with the dimethyl ether or the diacetoxy derivatives of hydroquinone to give polymeric vinylbenzylhydroquinones. Macroreticular redox polymers show greater reactivity and better stability than resins having redox systems on conventional gel‐type matrices. These redox polymers convert iron III to iron II, cerium IV to cerium III, iodine to iodide, and remove dissolved oxygen and peroxides from aqueous and organic liquids when the resins are in the reduced form. When in the oxidized form, the resins are reduced with titanium III, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium dithionite, sulfur dioxide, and sodium borohydride.