The synthesis and catalytic application of spacer-modified diol-functionalised Merrifield resins

A range of alkyl spacer-tethered 1,2- and 1,3-diols have been prepared from commercially available Merrifield resin (1) and (4-chloromethyl)phenylpentyl-polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene (2). The utility of these resin-bound diols as supports for the Ti(IV)-catalysed Diels–Alder reaction has been exemplified and it has been demonstrated that the length of the tether has a direct effect upon the catalytic activity.