Soluble organic supports for the non-covalent immobilization of homogeneous catalysts; modular approaches towards sustainable catalysts

The development of recyclable catalysts has become a key issue in the field of homogeneous catalysis. Several methods have been developed to facilitate the recuperation of homogeneous catalysts, including derivatization of catalysts with functional groups, which render the catalysts soluble in a specific solvent, and immobilization of the catalysts onto a (molecular) support. In most of the latter cases, homogeneous catalysts are attached to the soluble support via either covalent or dative bonds. Here, an overview is presented of recently developed approaches for the non-covalent immobilization of homogeneous catalysts to soluble macromolecular supports with a focus on dendrimers. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.