The reduction of carbonyl compounds by borohydride supported on a cellulose-anion exchange resin is known. The synthesis of a graft copolymer of cellulose and poly(4-vinyl pyridine) [CellO-g-poly(4-VP)] has been carried out with ceric ions as a redox initiator. A postgrafting treatment of CellO-g-poly(4-VP) with sodium borohydride has produced CellO-g-poly(4-VP) borane, a polymer-supported reducing agent. Optimum conditions pertaining to the maximum percentage of grafting have been evaluated as a function of the concentrations of the initiator, monomer, and nitric acid, amount of water, time, and temperature. The maximum percentage of grafting (585%) has been obtained with 0.927 mol/L of 4-vinyl pyridine and 0.018 mol/L of ceric ammonium nitrate in 120 min at 458C. The polymeric support, CellO-g-poly (4-VP) borane, has been used for reduction reactions of different carbonyl compounds such as benzaldehyde, cyclohexanone, crotonaldehyde, acetone, and furfural. The graft copolymer has been characterized with IR and thermogravimetric analysis. The grafted cellulose has been found to be thermally stable. The reduced products have been characterized with IR and NMR spectral methods. The reagent has been reused for the reduction of a fresh carbonyl compound, and it has been observed that the polymeric reagent reduces the compounds successfully but with a little lower product yield.

A polymer-supported (PS) phase transfer catalyst, polyethylene-g-quaternary ammonium salt (PE-g-Q N þ ), is prepared through a three-step graft copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MAn) onto polyethylene (PE) by photochemical method using 1% benzophenone (Bz) as photosensitizer. Post grafted acid hydrolysis of polyethylene-g-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAn) results in the preparation of PE-g-succinic acid which on further treatment with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) under basic conditions in tetrahydrofuran (THF) gives PE-g-Q N þ . Optimum conditions pertaining to maximum percentage of grafting have been evaluated as a function of concentration of maleic anhydride, amount of photosensitizer, and time of reaction. Maximum percentage of grafting (25%) was obtained using 3.57 mol of MAn and 0.5 mL of 1% Bz in 120 min. The PE and graft copolymers, PE-g-MAn, and PE-g-Q N þ were characterized by FTIR Spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ionic nature of quaternary ammonium salt, PE-g-Q N þ has also been confirmed by conductance measurements. PE-g-Q N þ reagent have been used successfully for polymerization, amidation, and esterification reactions. The products obtained were characterized by FTIR and H 1 NMR spectral methods. The reagent was reused for the further reactions and it was observed that the polymeric reagent polymerize, amidate, and esterificate the compounds successfully but with little lower product yield.

We report a three‐step preparation of a polymer‐supported oxidizing reagent, polyethylene‐g‐N‐bromosuccinimide (PE‐g‐NBS), through the graft copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MAn) onto polyethylene (PE) by a photochemical method with 1% benzophenone as a photosensitizer. The postgrafting treatment of polyethylene‐g‐maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MAn) with urea on fusion gives polyethylene‐g‐succinimide (PE‐g‐succinimide), which, on further treatment with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and bromine, gives the required reagent, PE‐g‐NBS. The maximum percentage grafting (25%) was obtained with 3.57 mol of MAn and 0.5 mL of 1% benzophenone in 120 min. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis methods were used to characterize the graft copolymer PE‐g‐MAn, PE‐g‐succinimide, and the polymeric support, that is, PE‐g‐NBS. The grafted PE and the polymeric support were found to be thermally stable. The polymer‐supported N‐bromosuccinimide was used successfully for the efficient oxidation of a series of alcohols, including 2‐propanol, n‐butanol, ethylene glycol, cyclohexanol, poly(vinyl alcohol), benzoin, benzyl alcohol, and chloromycetin, to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones. The selectivity of PE‐g‐NBS toward the oxidation of secondary alcoholic groups without the disturbance of the primary alcoholic groups was reflected during the oxidation of chloromycetin. The oxidized products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 1H‐NMR spectral methods. The reagent was reused for the oxidation of fresh alcohols, and it was found to oxidize them successfully, although with a little lower product yield. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

Oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic halides by N-oxide functionalities supported on 4-vinyl pyridine, (4-VP), grafted cellulose is reported in the present manuscript. Synthesis of graft copolymer of cellulose and poly 4-vinyl pyridine, poly(4-VP), has been carried out using ceric ions as redox initiator. Post-grafting treatment of CellO-g-poly(4-VP) with 30% H 2 O 2 in acetic acid gives Cellulose-g-poly(4-VP) N-oxide, the polymeric supported oxidizing reagent. The polymeric support, CellO-g-poly(4-VP) N-oxide, has been used for oxidation of different alkyl/aryl halide such as 1-bromo-3-methyl butane, 2-bromo propane, 1-bromo heptane and benzyl chloride. The polymeric reagent was characterized by IR and thermo-gravimetric analysis. The oxidized products were characterized by FTIR and H 1 NMR spectral methods. The reagent was reused for the oxidation of a fresh alkyl/aryl halides and it was observed that the polymeric reagent oxidizes the compounds successfully but with little lower product yield.