Catalysis by Transition Metal Derivatives Bound to Structurally Ordered Polymers

It is well known that metalloenzymes are able to catalyze chemical reactions with a very high activity and selectivity|1–3|. Therefore the synthesis of complexes between transition metal derivatives and structurally ordered macromolecular ligands to give catalytic systems having high activity and stereoselectivity is of large interest from both applicative and speculative point of view. In this connection the main aim of this article is to emphasize the role of the constitutional and configurational order of the macromolecular ligand in determining the properties of the corresponding complexes with transition metal derivatives. This is of particular importance for designing catalytic systems displaying peculiar features as far as activity, selectivity and stereochemistry are concerned. Moreover a better insight into environment and coordination sphere of the polymer attached metal derivative can be of great help for mechanistic studies of the reactions involved.