Quaternary ammonium chlorometallates

The synthesis of polyhalide salts, R4NX , used in electrophilic substitution reactions, are described in Chapter 2 and H-bonded complexed salts with the free acid, R4NHX2, which are used for example in acid-catalysed cleavage reactions and in electrophilic addition reactions with alkenes, are often produced in situ [33], although the fluorides are obtained by modification of method I.I.I.B. [19, 34], The in situ formation of such salts can inhibit normal nucleophilic reactions [35, 36]. Quaternary ammonium chlorometallates have been synthesized from quaternary ammonium chlorides and transition metal chlorides, such as IrClj and PtCl4, and are highly efficient catalysts for phase-transfer reactions and for metal complex promoted reactions [37]. 

Electrophilic substitution on polystyrene through a chlorometallation reaction yields chlorine functionality. This has opened up the possibilities of making many derivatives of polystyrene. Starting with chlorometallated polystyrene, derivatives such as quaternary, ammonium, or phosphonium salts have been made. Similarly, ethers, esters, sulfonamides, silanes, and ketone derivatives have been made by replacing the chlorine atom on chlorometallated polystyrene. In the case of polystyrene, however, it was discovered that chain end functionalization can be realized if the chain ends were terminated by group I metals such as lithium and potassium. 

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