Preparation and Testing of a Palladium-Decorated Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Foam Catalyst for the Hydrogenation of Benzophenone

Catalytic activity of a palladium catalyst with a porous carbon support was prepared and tested for benzophenone hydrogenation. The selectivity and yields toward the two possible reaction products (benzhydrol and diphenylmethane) can be directed by the applied solvent. It was found that in isopropanol, the prepared support was selective towards diphenylmethane with high conversion (99% selectivity and 99% benzophenone conversion on 323 K after 240 min). This selectivity might be explained by the presence of the incorporated structural nitrogens in the support.

Automated summary

The catalytic activity of a palladium catalyst with a porous carbon support was investigated for benzophenone hydrogenation. The choice of solvent was found to influence the selectivity and yields of the two possible reaction products, benzhydrol and diphenylmethane. In isopropanol, the catalyst exhibited high selectivity towards diphenylmethane with a conversion rate of 99% after 240 minutes at 323 K, which may be attributed to the presence of structural nitrogens in the support.