Versatile functionalization platform of biporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based materials: Application in heterogeneous supported catalysis

摘要

This paper highlights the straightforward and versatile functionalization of biporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-based networks obtained from the double porogen templating approach, and their subsequent utilization as efficient catalytic supports in heterogeneous supported catalysis. Advantage of the availability of hydroxyl groups within the PHEMA-based frameworks was taken through chemical modification with carbonyl diimidazole. This key activation led to miscellaneous functionalization reactions of the materials via nucleophilic substitution or thiol-ene/thiol-yne "click" additions of functional organic molecules mainly containing amino or thiol groups. Further, in-situ generation and immobilization of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on selected thiol- or amine-functionalized biporous frameworks allowed for the preparation of innovative GNP@PHEMA materials. The as-obtained hybrid frameworks could efficiently be used as supported catalysts in NaBH4-mediated reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The reusability of amine-bearing hybrid catalysts is proved over 5 successive 1 h-cycles with stable yields around 90%.