Cross-Linked Polymeric Micelles as Catalytic Nanoreactors

Cross-linked micelles have emerged as promising catalyst supports over the past two decades due to their improved structural stability, chemical diversity in multiple domains, and catalyst recovery compared to their uncross-linked analogues. We highlight the different physicochemical properties that arise by cross-linking the shell or core-domain and the subsequent impact on catalysis. Both, shell cross-linked micelles (SCMs) and core cross-linked micelles (CCMs) were initially designed to include one catalytic entity. Later on, SCMs were used to compartmentalize catalysts for non-orthogonal tandem catalysis while CCMs were investigated as phase transfer agents in biphasic catalysis. Current challenges in this field and new design trends for advanced micellar nanoreactors are discussed.