A Self-Assembled Coodination Polymer as a Homo- and Heterogeneus Catalyst

Significance

A new type of self-supported enantioselective catalysts, allowing a release-and-capture mechanism was described. The self-supported catalysts [t-BuDAX-Cu(OTf)₂] and [t-BuDAX-CuOTf] were used to catalyze a cyclopropanation reaction of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate in dichloromethane. Both [t-BuDAX-Cu(OTf)₂] and [t-BuDAX-CuOTf] coordination polymers were insoluble in dichloromethane and in a dichloro­methane solution of styrene. However, as soon as the diazo compound was added to the reaction medium, the coordination polymer dissociated to give a clear homogeneous solution where the catalytic reaction took place. After completion of the reaction, the coordination polymer was again formed and appeared as a solid precipitate in the reaction medium.