“Trapping” and photocatalysis of iron-porphyrins insidepolystyrene matrix.

Here we report the preparation and photocatalytic characterisation of the heterogeneous system polystyrene- iron(III)-tetra-aryl-porphyrins. The porphyrin is introduced into the polymer voids by swelling the polystyrene in THF; the evaporation of the solvent allows the contraction of the polymer that"traps" the porphyrin. The use of a second solvent with lower swelling properties can favour the access of the substrate molecules leaving the catalyst inside the solid matrix. Thus, this system can be suitable for the biomimetic oxidation of organic substrates.