Di- and triphenylated cation radical polymers and their use as Diels-Alder catalysts

Abstract

A regenerative catalyst composition is provided comprising polymer supported covalently bound di- or triphenylated cation radical salts, wherein the cation radical is a Group VA element and the complementing anion is a Lewis acid anion or other anion, such as perhalo acid or acid metal halide. The phenylated cation radical salts, either polymer supported or unsupported, are useful catalytic agents facilitating the versatile Diels-Alder organic synthetic reactions to form cyclohexene compounds including the more intricate terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, and prostaglandinoids.