Solid functionalized polystyrene cross-linked with

One of the most developed methods used in combinatorial chemistry libraries preparation is solid-phase organic synthesis (SPOS) based on the Merrifield method for peptide synthesis [128]. A great number of such libraries have been prepared on a solid support, generally a functionalized polystyrene resin cross-linked with a small amount of divinylbenzene. Recently, it was demonstrated that micro-wave irradiation can be applied to solid-phase immobilized reagents to reduce significantly the reaction time. Those readers who are interested in such processes we would like to refer to more extensive reviews published by Chamberlin et al. [129] and Kappe [130], while in this chapter we are giving most common examples. 

In a similar way, Mizota et al. grafted polymer chains functionalized with sulfonic sites over a polystyrene-type polymer. As observed above, the flexibility of the polymer chains allowed better accessibility of the catalytic sites and this solid acid catalyst was ten times more active than the conventionally used cross-linked resin in the hydrolysis of sucrose (Scheme 2) [27]. 

A flexible means of access to functionalized supports for solid-phase synthesis is based on metallated, cross-linked polystyrene, which reacts smoothly with a wide range of electrophiles. Cross-linked polystyrene can be lithiated directly by treatment with n-butyllithium and TMEDA in cyclohexane at 60-70 °C [1-3] to yield a product containing mainly meta- and para-Iithiated phenyl groups [4], Metallation of noncross-linked polystyrene with potassium ferf-amylate/3-(lithiomethyl)heptane has also been reported [5], The latter type of base can, unlike butyllithium/TMEDA [6], also lead to benzylic metallation [7]. The C-Iithiation of more acidic arenes or heteroar-enes, such as imidazoles [8], thiophenes [9], and furans [9], has also been performed on insoluble supports (Figure 4.1). These reactions proceed, like those in solution, with high regioselectivity. 

The support originally used for solid-phase synthesis was partially chloromethy-lated cross-linked polystyrene, which was prepared by chloromethylation of cross-linked polystyrene with chloromethyl methyl ether and tin(IV) chloride [1-3] or zinc chloride [4] (Figure 6.1). Haloalkylations of this type are usually only used for the functionalization of supports, and not for selective transformation of support-bound intermediates. Because of the mutagenicity of a-haloethers, other methods have been developed for the preparation of chloromethyl polystyrene. These include the chlorination of methoxymethyl polystyrene (Figure 6.1 [5]), the use of a mixture of dimethoxymethane, sulfuryl chloride, and chlorosulfonic acid instead of chloromethyl methyl ether [6], the chlorination of hydroxymethyl polystyrene [7], and the chlorination of cross-linked 4-methylstyrene-styrene copolymer with sodium hypochlorite [8], sulfuryl chloride [8], or cobalt(III) acetate/lithium chloride [9] (Figure 6.1, Table 6.1). 

In the stepwise synthesis of peptides using cross-linked polystyrene supports, the rate of incorporation of a particular amino acid residue has been found to decrease with increasing chain length in a number of instances 41 -43). These occurrences have been attributed to steric hindrance at the various functional sites on the heterogeneous network. Sheppard investigated the origin of this steric hindrance and its sudden and unpredictable onset on the reactivity and physicochemical characteristics in the case of the cross-linked polystyrene-bound peptides 44). These studies suggested that the physicochemical incompatibility of the polystyrene matrix with the attached peptides is the factor responsible for the undesired influences of the solid support on the synthetic manipulations 44 45>. 

In addition to the functionalities attached to the benzene ring in polystyrene, it is also possible to include in the polystyrene backbone different monomer units and generate solid phase sorbents with modified properties. It is common, for example, that the ion exchangers or solid phase sorbents contain a certain proportion of divinylbenzene DVB) used for crosslinking the polystyrene macromolecules. Contents around 8-12% DVB in styrene are common in commercial products. Other cross-linking substances can be used besides divinylbenzene, such as ethylenedimethacrylate. 

---