Alkylchlorotins grafted to cross-linked polystyrene beads by a -(CH2)n- spacer (n=4, 6, 11): selective, clean and recyclable catalysts for transesterification reactions.

Insoluble polystyrene grafted compounds of the type (P-H)(1-t){P-(CH2)n SnBu(p)Cl(3-p)}(t), (P-H)(1-t){P-(CH2)n SnBuO}(t) and (P-H)(1-t)[{P-(CH2)n SnBuCl}2O](t/2), in which (P-H) is a cross-linked polystyrene; n=4, 6, and 11; p=0 and 1; and t the degree of functionalisation, were synthesised from Amberlite XE-305, a polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene. The compounds were characterised by using elemental analysis, and IR, Raman, solid-state 117Sn NMR, and 1H and 119Sn high-resolution MAS NMR spectroscopy. The influence of the spacer length and the tin functionality on the catalytic activity of these compounds, as well as their recycling ability, was assessed in the transesterification reaction of ethyl acetate with various alcohols. These studies showed significant differences in the activity of the catalysts interpreted in terms of changes in the mobility of the catalytic centres. Some of the supported catalysts could be recycled at least seven times without noticeable loss of activity. The residual tin content in the reaction products was found to be as low as 3 ppm.