Polymer-supported ytterbium perfluorooctanesulfonate [Yb(OPf)3]: A recyclable catalyst for organic reactions

Amberlyst A-21, a kind of well-known and cheap polymeric material, was treated with ytterbium perfluorooctanesulfonate Yb(OPf)₃] giving a reagent with a ytterbium loading of 1.34 (wt%). The polymer-supported fluorous ytterbium catalyses the highly efficient nitration, esterification, Fridel-Crafts acylation, and aldol condensation. The catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and used again without a significant loss of catalytic activity. The protocol avoids the use of fluorous solvents during the reaction or workup, which are expensive and can leach in small amounts.