Polysiloxanes as supports for transition metal catalysts

This article reviews the potential applicability of polysiloxanes as supports for transition metal catalysts. Unique physicochemical properties of polysiloxanes suggest their usefulness as catalyst supports. Polysiloxanes of various macromolecular topologies - linear and star-shaped and hyperbranched - with the functional side groups capable of binding transition metals were prepared. These polymers were used as carriers for palladium and rhodium complexes. The activities of so-immobilized complexes of transition metals in model reactions were comparable to that of the corresponding homogeneous complexes of these metals.