Polymer grafts on zirconia particles and their application as supports of hybrid catalyst

A facile and efficient strategy for the preparation of polymer grafts on zirconia particles is developed by means of self-initiated photografting and photopolymerization. The UV-induced grafting polymerization is applicable to a variety of polymerizable monomers, allowing the direct formation of homogeneous and stable polymer coatings on zirconia particles without any initiator immobilization. The as-prepared polymer grafts are proved to be efficient supports for polyoxometalates as H 3 PW 12 O 40 can be uniformly and stably immobilized on a poly(4-vinylpyridine) layer through electrostatic interaction. The resulting hybrid catalyst system, associated with high catalytic activity for a series of oxidation reactions such as amines, alkenes, alcohols and sulfides, represents a novel and efficient system with a high catalyst loading capacity and stability upon reuse in further cycles. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry