Cross-linked poly-vinyl polymers versus polyureas as designed supports for catalytically active M0 nanoclusters Part II. Pd0/cross-linked poly-vinyl polymers versus Pd0/EnCat™30NP in mild hydrogenation reactions

Innovative Pd-0 heterogeneous catalysts were prepared upon using cross-linked, gel-type, functional acrylic polymers as the supports, along a simple route in use in our laboratories since long. The supports were obtained by polyaddition co-polymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide with either 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, methacrylic acid or 4-vinylpyridine, and ethylene glycoldimethacrylate (cross-linker). The performance of these catalysts in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene, trans-methylcinnamate and 4-chloro-2-nitroanisole was compared with that of commercial Pd-0/EnCat 30NP, produced by Reaxa. One of the catalysts (sulfonic resin as the support) behaved very well as far as activity, stability and selectivity are concerned. These results suggest that heterogeneous metal catalysts supported on polyaddition resins could be developed to become interesting materials for technical applications. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.