Silica-supported dendrimer-palladium complex-catalyzed selective hydrogenation of dienes to monoolefins

The selective hydrogenation of cyclic and acyclic dienes to monoolefins occurs under very mild conditions, in the presence of silica-supported PAMAM-Pd complexes. The activity and selectivity of this reaction is sensitive to the dendrimer structure. These dendritic complexes display excellent recycle properties, retaining activity for up to eight recycles.