Reduction of olefins, nitroarenes and Schiff base compounds by a polymer-supported [2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole]palladium complex

2-(2'-Pyridyl)benzimidazole (PBIMH) was functionalized onto chloromethylated polystyrene beads crosslinked with 6.5 % divinylbenzene, and this solid support was then reacted with Na2PdCl4 in methanol. The functionalized beads were then activated using sodium borohydride. The resultant polymer-supported [2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole]palladium complex (PSDVB-PBIM-PdCl2) and its activated form were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. XPS studies confirmed the +2 oxidation state of palladium in the supported complex. The activated complex was found to catalyse the hydrogenation of various organic substrates including olefins, nitro and Schiff base compounds. Kinetic measurements for the hydrogenation of cyclopentene, cyclohexene and cyclooctene were carried out by varying temperature, catalyst and substrate concentration. The energy and entropy of activation were evaluated from the kinetic data. The catalyst showed an excellent recycling efficiency over six cycles without leaching of metal from the polymer support, whereas the unsupported complex was unstable as metal leached out into the solution during the first run.