Novel synthesis of polymeric phase transfer catalysts containingN,N-dialkylacrylamide unit and their catalytic activity

Abstract

Soluble polymeric phase transfer catalysts (PTCs) containing benzyltributylphosphonium chloride moieties and polar N,N-dialkyl-acrylamide with long alkyl groups such as N,N-dipropylacrylamide, N,N-dibutylacrylamide, N,N-dihexylacrylamide, and N,N-dioctylacrylamide were prepared via two-step reactions from p-chloromethylstyrene and the corresponding N,N-dialkylacrylamide. When the obtained polymers were added, the phase transfer catalyzed reaction of benzylchloride with solid potassium acetate to proceed smoothly. The catalytic activity was strongly affected by the content of phosphonium chloride and the varieties of comonomer unit in the polymeric PTC. The polymeric PTC containing the N,N-dihexylacrylamide unit showed excellent high catalytic activity in a low polar solvent such as the mixed solvent of toluene with 70 vol % n-tridecane. Therefore, the polymer containing lipophilic long chains such as the hexyl group is desirable for polymeric PTC.