Anchored Wilkinson’s Catalyst

Center for Applied Catalysis, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079

augustro@shu.edu

Abstract Wilkinson’s catalyst, Rh(Ph3P)3Cl, was the first viable homogeneous hydrogenation catalyst. Only a few years after its discovery, several reports were published on the adaptation of this catalyst using a triphenyl phosphine substituted polystyrene as an insoluble ligand. This approach to heterogenizing this classic catalyst has not met with any significant success. We have been successful, however, in anchoring the Wilkinson’s catalyst to a phosphotungstic acid modified alumina using our Anchored Homogeneous Catalyst technology.