Polymer-assisted solution phase synthesis scavenger resins

Fig. 1. Polymer-assisted solution phase (PASP) synthesis combines the merits of solution-phase chemistry with the advantages of facilitated phase separation by using polymer reagents (a) or scavenger resins (b).

Under certain condition, however, reactions are still preferably conducted in solution. This is the case e.g., for heterogeneous reactions and for conversions, which deliver complex product mixtures. In the latter case, further conversion of this mixture on the solid support is not desirable. In these instances, the combination of solution chemistry with polymer-assisted conversions can be an advantageous solution. Polymer-assisted synthesis in solution employs the polymer matrix either as a scavenger or for polymeric reagents. In both cases the virtues of solution phase and solid supported chemistry are ideally combined allowing for the preparation of pure products by filtration of the reactive resin. If several reactive polymers are used sequentially, multi-step syntheses can be conducted in a polymer-supported manner in solution as well. As a further advantage, many reactive polymers can be recycled for multiple use. 

The field of organic chemistry has seen the most extensive use of polymeric materials as aids in effecting chemical transformation and product isolation. Insoluble polymer supports have been used as handles to facilitate these functions. As chemical reagents can be bound to an insoluble polymer carrier and used in organic synthesis [117,118], polymer-bound reagents can also be used to assist in the purification step of solution-phase reactions [119,120]. The latter are known as scavenger resins. These are added to the reaction mixture upon completion of the reaction in order to quench and selectively bind to the unreacted reagents or by-products. The polymer-bound impurities are then removed firom the product by simple filtration to obtain pure compounds. For example, aminomethylated poly(styrene-co-divinyl benzene) can be used to remove acid chlorides, sulfonyl chlorides, isocyanates, thiocyanates, and proton. Similarly, 2-Chlorotrityl resins have been developed for the attachment of carboxylic acids, alcohols. 

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