Catalytic and kinetic study of the liquid-phase hydrogenation of various organic substrates over a polymer-anchored Pd(II) catalyst

A polymer-anchored Pd(II) complex has been prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy and FTIR. The catalyst shows excellent catalytic activity in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of substituted nitrobenzenes at normal pressure of hydrogen gas at 25 °C in DMF medium. We have also studied the liquid-phase hydrogenation of other organic substrates such as alkenes, alkynes, aromatic aldehydes, etc. The influences of various parameters such as amount of catalyst, concentration of substrate, temperature and solvent have been studied. The catalyst can be used five times without much loss in activity.