A facile approach for the heterogenization of transition metal catalysts using non-covalent interactions in hollow click-based porous organic polymers (H-CPPs) is presented. A catalytically active cationic species, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy = 2, 2'-bipyridyl), was immobilized in H-CPPs via electrostatic interactions. The intrinsic properties of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ were well retained. The resulting Rucontaining hollow polymers exhibited excellent catalytic activity, enhanced stability, and good recyclability when used for the oxidative hydroxylation of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid to 4-methoxyphenol under visible-light irradiation. The attractive catalytic performance mainly resulted from efficient mass transfer and the maintenance of the chemical properties of the cationic Ru complex in the H-CPPs.

Two flexible click-based porous organic polymers (CPP-F1 and CPP-F2) have been readily synthesized. SEM images show CPP-F1 is a 3D network, while CPP-F2 exhibits a granular morphology. Pd(OAc)₂ can be easily incorporated into CPP-F1 and CPP-F2 to form Pd@CPP-F1 and Pd@CPP-F2, respectively. The interactions between the polymers and palladium are confirmed by solid-state ¹³C NMR, IR and XPS. Palladium nanoparticles (NPs) are formed after hydrogenation of olefins and nitrobenzene. Palladium NPs in CPP-F1 are well dispersed on the external surface of the polymer, while palladium NPs in CPP-F2 are located in the interior pores and on the external surface. In comparison with NPs in CPP-F1, the dual distribution of palladium NPs in CPP-F2 results in higher selectivity in the hydrogenation of 1, 3-cyclohexadiene to cyclohexane. The catalytic systems can be recycled several times without obvious loss of catalytic activity or agglomeration of palladium NPs. Hot filtration, mercury drop tests and ICP analyses suggest that the catalytic systems proceed via a heterogeneous pathway.