Thermal and catalytic aspects of Ln(III) polymer–metal complexes

BACKGROUND: In this era, polymer‐supported catalysts are gaining more attention, as they are effective in reduction of pollution, production cost and give good yield. Due to the versatility of lanthanide catalysts in organic synthesis, we envisioned that lanthanides(III) supported polymers would afford a novel type of solid phase Lewis acids. RESULTS: The polymer–metal complexes are found to be efficient and effective catalysts in the Biginelli three‐component, one‐pot synthesis of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones. The synthesized polymer is thermally more stable and porous in nature than polychelates. CONCLUSION: The polymer–metal complexes can be used as economical and eco‐friendly catalysts for synthesis of substituted 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones with different aromatic aldehydes and β‐ketoesters. Thermal stability of the polymer is higher than that of polychelates due to the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry