Polystyrene-supported polyoxyethylene bound potassium permanganate as a heterogeneous oxidizing agent

Oxidation behavior of a 2 mol % divinylbenzene (DVB)‐crosslinked polystyrene‐supported permanganate function was investigated toward low molecular weight primary and secondary alcohols and aldehydes. The permanganate function was attached to a polystyrene support through cyclic polyoxyethylene (POE) units immobilized on the support. Contrary to the oxidations catalyzed by low molecular weight permanganate reagents, the oxidation of primary alcohol terminated in the aldehyde stage. The secondary alcohols were converted to the respective ketone and aldehyde to acid. The effect of the variable parameters similar to solvent, temperature, and reagent to substrate ratio was followed. Nonpolar cyclohexane was found to be the best solvent for the present study. Also the reactivity increased with increasing temperature. The oxidizing reagent possesses a long shelf life and could be recycled several times without reduction of capacity and mechanical stability. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3708–3717, 2003