Catalytic activity of polymer-montmorillonite composites in chemical reactions

Polymer-clay composite material has been prepared by intercalation of polymeric ammonium salt onto the montmorillonite (Na-MMT) followed by grafted polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate onto amine-terminated poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile)-montmorillonite (ATBN-MMT) intercalate. The hydroxyl groups were modified to chloromethyl groups followed by conversion to onium salts, which are suitable as phase transfer catalysis. The catalytic activities of the supported catalysts were investigated in nucleophilic reactions of thiocyanate and cyanate ions with alkyl and aryl halides. The rates of the reactions have been investigated wider different factors such as the nature and structure of the support, the amount of catalyst, the solvent, and the temperature. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.