Transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by PEG-armed ruthenium-microgel star polymers: microgel-core reaction space for active, versatile and recyclable catalysis

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-armed Ru(II)-bearing microgel-core star polymer catalysts were used for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. The star catalysts (Ru(II)-PEG Star) were one-pot synthesized by ruthenium-catalyzed living radical polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and a sequential linking reaction with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (1) and diphenylphosphinostyrene (2). The polymers efficiently and homogeneously reduced acetophenone into 1-phenylethanol in 2-propanol coupled with K2CO3 at a high yield, despite a low catalyst feed ratio to the substrate (Ru(II)/substrate1⁄41/1000). Importantly, the catalytic activity was higher than that of the original RuCl2(PPh3)3, as well as that of similar polymer-supported Ru(II) catalysts, such as poly(methyl methacrylate)-armed star-, polystyrene geland random polymer-supported catalysts. Ru(II)-PEG Star is applicable to various substrates, including para-substituted aromatic, aliphatic and bulky ketones, where the activity of Ru(II)-PEG Star is is generally higher than that of RuCl2(PPh3)3. For example, the turnover frequency for 4-chloroacetophenone and cyclohexanone reached B1000 h 1, and the reduction rate of cyclopentanone and 3-methyl-5-heptanone was twice as high as that of RuCl2(PPh3)3. The star catalyst also showed high catalyst recyclability, independent of the substrate species. These features most likely arise from its unique reaction space, which consists of a ruthenium-embedded, hydrophobic microgel core surrounded by amphiphilic and polar PEGMA arms. Polymer Journal (2011) 43, 770–777; doi:10.1038/pj.2011.52; published online 22 June 2011