Four ethylene bis-indenyl ligands containing tethers of various lengths were successfully immobilized on the surface of functionalized silica gel. The strategy of immobilization was based on catalytic thiol-ene coupling of terminal alkene groups in the tethers with surface thiol groups. Obtained materials have high BET surface area and pore volume. The method developed can be used for immobilization of catalytically active bis-indenyl metallocene complexes, thus preventing their dimerization and deactivation.

Reactions of catalytic hydrogenations and polymerizations are widely used in industry for manufacture of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. Homogeneous catalysts for the processes that have low stability and their separation is difficult. Therefore, the development of new highly active and stable catalysts for hydrogenations and polymerizations is a necessity. The objective of this research was the development of a strategy for immobilization of heterogeneous metallocene catalysts. First, a methodology of immobilization of bis-indenyl ligands on the surface of mesoporous silica gel was designed. Four bis-indenyl ligands containing functionalized tethers of various lengths with terminal alkene groups were synthesized. All bis-indenyl ligands were immobilized on the surface of mesoporous functionalized silica gel by two methods: hydrosilylation and thiol-ene coupling of the double bond. After comparing the results, the second strategy was chosen as more efficient. The materials can be used further as intermediates for synthesis of supported metallocene catalysts.