Process for the removal and return of a catalyst to a liquid phase medium

1. A process for the selective removal of a soluble catalyst component from a reaction medium and subsequently returning the soluble catalyst component to a reaction medium comprising contacting a compound of formula I below with a first reaction medium to bind the soluble catalyst component to the Compound I thereby forming a bound component, separating the bound component and the first reaction medium, subsequently returning the bound catalyst component to a second reaction medium in which the bound component undergoes a reaction whereby the soluble catalyst component is released from Compound I wherein the Compound I is of formula:

[SUP]-[[L]-[G]] n′   (I)

wherein:

L is a group linking G to SUP- of formula:

—(CH 2 ) h [S(O) d ] m (CHD) n Z m ((CH 2 ) n Y(CH 2 ) n ) m where D is selected from H, CN, OH, —C(O)OR, —C(O)NR 2 , —C(O)OG, —CONRG and Y is selected from O, NR, S(O) d , CO, CO 2 , —NRCOZ m —, —Z m CONR—, —C═N—, a heterocyclic ring where Z is independently O, S, NR;

and wherein d is independently 0 to 2, h is from 0 to 15, m is independently 0 or 1 and n is independently 0 to 4 and R is independently selected from H or a C 1-12 alkyl group and a phenyl group; or L is not present and G is linked directly to SUP;

G is selected from an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group and a heteroaryl group wherein the group G has

a. a leaving group LG selected from Cl, Br, I and a pseudohalide; and

b. substituent Q selected from H, NR 2 , N + R 3 , —N(R)CO 2 H, —N═CR 2 , OR, —O + (R)SiR 3 , CO 2 R, CO 2 − , —CONR 2 , —NRC(O)R, F, Cl, NO 2 , CN and a ring formed between group Q and a part of group L;

SUP is a support having a plurality n′ of groups -[L]-[G] bound to the support.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the support SUP is selected from a polymer, silica and alumina.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the Compound I is an organopolysiloxane wherein the support SUP comprises silica and group G is an optionally substituted haloaryl, haloheteroaryl or haloalkyl group.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein h is from 0 to 4 and G is selected from an alkyl group, an aryl group and a heteroaryl group.

5. A process for the selective removal of a catalyst component from a reaction medium and subsequently returning the catalyst component to a reaction medium comprising contacting a compound of formula IA below with the reaction medium to bind the catalyst component to the Compound IA thereby forming a bound component, separating the bound component and the reaction medium, subsequently returning the bound component to a reaction medium and treating the bound component so as to release the catalyst component from Compound IA wherein the Compound IA is of formula:

[SUP]-[G] n′   (IA)

wherein G is linked directly to SUP;

G is selected from an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group and a heteroaryl group wherein the group G has

i) a leaving group LG selected from Cl, Br, I and a pseudohalide; and

ii) substituent Q selected from H, NR 2 , N + R 3 , —N(R)CO 2 H, —N═CR 2 , OR, —O + (R)SiR 3 , CO 2 R, CO 2 − , —CONR 2 —NRC(O)R, F, Cl, NO 2 and CN;

SUP is a support having a plurality n′ of groups -[G] bound to the support.