Polymer supported palladium (II) complexes as hydrogenation catalysts

Abstract

Dihydrogen reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitrocompounds, alkenes, alkynes, nitriles and Schiff bases to their corresponding saturated products is efficiently carried out using the soluble and polymer anchored" palladium (II) complexes.The immobilization of the palladium (II) complexes in the polymer matrix slightly decreased the catalytic activities on the basis of metal content but improved the thermal and chemical stabilities and product selectivities relative to those of the corresponding homogeneous ones. The soluble catalyst has the propensity to decompose under high pressure, high temperature conditions but the immobilized ones can be used repeatedly and can be stored for long periods without any appreciable loss of catalytic activity. XPS study indicates the presence of palladium (II) in the fresh and used catalyst and a plausible reaction mechanism has been suggested on the basis of experimental findings.