Department of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
Abstract:
New syntheses of PEG-(OCH2C5H4N)2 and PEG-(OC6H4PPh2)2 (PEG: poly(ethylene glycol)) conjugates are reported. An iridium hydrogenation catalyst 1, is shown to catalyze hydrogenation in a water/substrate two-phase system. Attachment of 1 to PEG to make 2 and 3 succeeds in making the complex water-soluble and allows it to retain some of its catalytic ability, but leads to micelle formation that inhibits the separation of organic and aqueous phases.