A polymer-supported rhodium catalyst that functions in polar protic solvents

Highly cross-linked macroporous polymers are excellent supports for heterogenizing rhodium alkene hydrogenation and hydroboration catalysts. The permanent pore structure of the support enables high conversions and excellent yields with minimal workup (filtering). These heterogenized catalysts can be reused, and due to the permanent pore structure, they function in a broad range of solvents including polar protic. Control experiments reveal that catalysis occurs exclusively within the polymer matrix, and not due to leached catalyst.