Synthesis and Property of Polymer-Anchored Cobalt Catalysts for the Isomerization of Quadricyclene

In order to realize the photochemical conversion and storage system of solar energy based on the reversible valence isomerization of norbornadiene to quadricyclene, polymer-anchored cobalt catalysts were synthesized and their properties were examined for the isomerization of quadricyclene to norbornadiene. Polymeranchored cobalt catalysts were prepared by graft-copolymerizing chloromethylstyrene onto porous polyethylene, cellulose acetate and glass fibers and then making ester linkages between the chloromethyl groups and carboxyl groups of cobalt porphine. The resulting catalysts were highly active, easily handled and very stable in the isomerization of quadricyclene to norbornadiene compared with monomeric cobalt porphines.