Methanolysis of organophosphorus esters promoted by an M2+ catalyst supported on polystyrene-based copolymers

• Published in: Canadian journal of chemistry Vol. 86; no. 2; pp. 91 - 100
• Main Authors: Didier, Benoit, Mohamed, Mark F, Csaszar, Elizabeth, Colizza, Kate G, Neverov, Alexei A, Brown, R Stan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.02.2008
• ISSN: 0008-4042; 1480-3291
• DOI: 10.1139/v07-099

The methanolysis of three neutral organophosphorus esters (a phosphonate, a phosphonothioate, and a phosphorothionate) promoted by several polymer-supported Zn(II) or Cu(II) containing catalysts was studied. The catalysts consist of a Zn(II) or Cu(II) complex with 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane or phenanthroline attached to a porous polystyrene resin. In each case, the polymer supported catalyst showed activity at near neutral s s pH in methanol (8.38) and ambient temperature and provided accelerations of up to a factor of 2.9 × 10 6 relative to the background reaction at s s pH 9.05. The solid materials could be reused several times and could be reactivated when the activity diminished. Various polymers of different porosity and extent of cross-linking were studied, with the net result being that larger porosities offer the best reactivity for catalyzed methanolysis of these OP species in methanol. This is explained by different parameters including the accessibility to reactive sites, the increase of concentration of catalytic sites on the surface of the polymer, and some cooperative effects between neighboring catalytic groups.Key words: functionalized polymer, metal containing, methanolysis, organophosphorus pesticides and CW agents, catalyst.