Polymer Fibers as Carriers for Homogeneous Catalysts

Abstract

This paper describes a polymer fiber-based approach for the immobilization of homogeneous catalysts. The goal is to generate products that are free of catalysts which would be of great importance for the development of optoelectronic or pharmaceutical compounds. Electrospinning was employed to prepare the non-woven fiber assembly composed of polystyrene. The homogeneous catalyst scandium triflate was immobilized on the polystyrene fibers during electrospinning and on corresponding core shell fibers using a fiber template approach. An imino aldol and an aza-Diels-Alder model reaction were carried out with each fibrous catalytic system. This resulted in the immobilization of homogeneous catalysts in a polymer environment without loss of their catalytic activity and may even be enhanced when compared with reactions carried out in homogeneous solutions.

Electrospinning of Manmade and Biopolymer Nanofibers—Progress in Techniques, Materials, and Applications

“…To prevent leaching of the scandiumtriflate catalyst a kinetic approach was used. [85] The core fiber was covered via a vapor phase deposition by PPX and a chlorine containing PPX varying the thickness of the shell. It was found that the leaching of the catalyst could be strongly reduced via a suitable choice of the thickness of the shell and the chemical composition of the PPX.…”

Structural and Spectroscopic Investigation of Ceria Nanofibers Fabricated by Electrospinning Process

“…4 This technique creates a high specific surface area to volume ratio, high porosity and continuous fibers. 5 Nanofibers have various applications including textile devices, 6,7 catalysts, 8,9 membranes, 10 sensors, 11 biomedical applications, 7,12 and filtration. [11][12][13][14] The combination of sol-gel and electrospinning process is the most promising technology for the fabrication of nanofibers.…”

Chemistry on Electrospun Polymeric Nanofibers: Merely Routine Chemistry or a Real Challenge?

“…Core-shell electrospun polymer nanofibers were used by us for the immobilization of a homogenous catalyst. [59] The system could be of very high utility for optoelectronic or pharmaceutical products where traces of catalyst residues could be undesirable. The homogenous catalyst scandium triflate was immobilized on the polystyrene fibers and coated with poly( p-xylylene) (PPX, 0.2 and 0.4 mm thick) and poly( p-chloroxylylene) (PPX-C, S. Agarwal, J. H. Wendorff, A. Greiner Figure 11.…”