Synthesis and properties of polymer-supported cyanoaromatic compounds

The photoreaction of a styrene/4-tributylstannylmethyl styrene (4:1) copolymer with di- and tetra-cyanoaromatic compounds in benzene-acetonitrile (1:1) gave polymers having cyanoaromatic functions in the side chain. These polymers were soluble in benzene and served as effective and recoverable sensitizers for three different types of photoinduced electron-transfer mediated organic photoreactions.