Preparation of polymer incarcerated gold nanocluster catalysts (PI-Au) and their application to aerobic oxidation reactions of boronic acids, alcohols, and silyl enol ethers

Heterogeneous gold nanocluster catalysts immobilized by the method known as polymer incarceration were prepared. Polystyrene-derived polymers with epoxide and alcohol moieties, which could be cross-linked under heating conditions, were employed as supports for their preparation. Cationic gold salts were reduced in a solution of NaBH4 and the polymers. Poor solvents for the polymers were added, and the polymers were precipitated and encapsulated gold nanoclusters with weak but multiple interactions between a gold nanocluster surface and the π electrons of benzene rings. The polymer capsules were heated under neat conditions to afford heterogeneous gold nanocluster catalysts; namely, polymer-incarcerated gold nanoclusters. The catalysts thus prepared could be applied to the aerobic oxidation of phenyl boronic acids, alcohols, and silyl enol ethers. We found that the choice of polymers, good and poor solvents for the polymers, metal loadings, heating conditions for cross-linking, and final activation were all crucial for obtaining high-activity catalysts.

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