Catalytic Hydrogenation of Polystyrene

The use of ultra wide pore silica as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of polystyrene to give poly(cyclohexylethylene) (PCHE) has facilitated the development of a dramatically improved process with much milder conditions. The large pores allow rapid diffusion into and out of the catalyst, so that the interior surfaces are also available for reaction. The mild conditions give rise to high‐quality PCHE, whose structure is shown in the Figure.