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

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:
• —(CH2)h[S(O)d]m(CHD)nZm((CH2)nY(CH2)n)m where D is selected from H, CN, OH, —C(O)OR, —C(O)NR2, —C(O)OG, —CONRG and Y is selected from O, NR, S(O)d, CO, CO2, —NRCOZm—, —ZmCONR—, —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 C1-12 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, NR2, N+R3, —N(R)CO2H, —N═CR2, OR, —O+(R)SiR3, CO2R, CO2−, —CONR2, —NRC(O)R, F, Cl, NO2, 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.