Transition metal nanoparticles stabilized by ammonium salts of hyperbranched polystyrene: effect of metals on catalysis of the biphasic hydrogenation of alkenes and arenes

Hyperbranched polystyrene bearing ammonium salts (HPS-NR3+Cl−) behaves as an excellent stabilizer of ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, and platinum nanoparticles from 1 to 3 nm in size uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. The catalytic performance of the resulting metal-polymer composites, M@HPS-NR3+Cl−, is dependent on the metal. This dependence was investigated by assessing the hydrogenation of alkenes and arenes. The utility of M@HPS-NR3+Cl− as reusable catalysts in aqueous/organic biphasic systems was demonstrated by examining the catalysis of the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds containing various functional groups by Ru@HPS-NR3+Cl−.

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