| Abstract: | We characterized three low-molecular-weight thiazolium salt analogues: N-methyl-5-(2′-benzyloxyethyl)-4-methylthiazolium iodide (MBMTI), N-methyl-4-phenylthiazolium iodide (MPTI), and N-methylbenzothiazolium iodide (MBTI). MBMTI, having high-electron density on the thiezolium ring, was found to be a durable thiazolium salt in buffer solution. Then, the polymer-supported thiazolium salt catalyst having MBMTI structure as a catalytic site for acyloin condensation was prepared by the polymerization of the corresponding thiazole monomer and the following quaternization. The polymer catalyst had excellent catalytic activity even in buffer solution, while the corresponding low molecular weight catalyst did not show any activity in aqueous system. Furthermore, the durable polymer catalyst could be reused under the aqueous condition. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
