Poly(4-vinylpyridine) catalyzed selective methanolysis of methyl and methylene bromides

The effect of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) on the methanolysis of methyl bromide and methylene bromide was studied at temperatures between 75 °C and 125 °C. PVP acts as an efficient HBr scavenger promoting the formation of dimethyl ether (DME) and dimethoxymethane (DMM) from the corresponding bromomethanes and methanol in moderate yields with high selectivity. No reaction was observed in the absence of PVP under the conditions adopted. The activity of the catalyst remained unchanged even after five cycles showing the efficacy and application of the polymer as an environmentally green reagent as well as catalyst in this methanolysis reaction.