Catalytic conversions in aqueous media: a novel and efficient hydrogenation of polybutadiene-1,4-block-poly(ethylene oxide) catalyzed by Rh/TPPTS complexes in mixed micellar nanoreactors

Exceptionally high catalytic activities (TOF > 840 h−1) were achieved in the aqueous phase hydrogenation of polybutadiene-1,4-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PB-b-PEO) catalyzed by water-soluble Rh/TPPTS complexes [TPPTS = P(C6H4-m-SO3Na)3] in mixed micellar nanoreactors formed by dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride along with PB-b-PEO especially when n-hexane was added to the reaction system. This is the first example of a catalytic hydrogenation of an unsaturated polymer using water-soluble transition metal TPPTS complexes in aqueous media.