Tuning porosity and activity of microporous polymer network organocatalysts by co-polymerisation

Abstract

Microporous polymer networks based on binaphthyl phosphoric acids are suitable heterogeneous asymmetric organocatalysts. Herein we show that the porous characteristics of such networks can be fine-tuned by co-polymerisation. This enables us to investigate the influence of the surface area and porosity in microporous networks on their catalytic performance. In this case, the activity of the polymers in an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction is increased by the use of polymers with higher surface areas. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.