Synthesis of the first polymer-supported tripodal triphoshine ligand and its application in the heterogeneous hydrogenolysis of benzo[b]thiophene by rhodium catalysis A

A p-styrenyl substituent attached to the ligand framework allows the tripodal triphosphine moiety C(CH2PPh2)3 to be introduced as a pendant group in polystyrene matrices via free-radical copolymerisation. In conjunction with rhodium(I), the POLYTRIPHOS material forms an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of benzo[b]thiophene to 2-ethylthiophenol and ethyl benzene.