Comparison of homogeneous and heterogeneous palladium hydrogenation catalysts

Mechanistic and kinetic studies of Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation at atmospheric pressure and 30–100 C were carried out with methyl sorbate, methyl linoleate and conjugated linoleate. Homogeneous Pd catalysts and particularly Pd-acetylacetonate [Pd(acac)₂] were significantly more selective than Pd/C in the hydrogenation of sorbate to hexanoates, mainlytrans-2-hexenoate. Relative rate constants for the different parallel and consecutive reactions, determined by computer simulation, indicated that the low diene selectivity of Pd/C can be dattributed to a significant direct reduction of sorbate to hexanoate. The similar behavior of PdCl₂ to that of Pd/C suggests that Pd(II) was initially reduced to Pd(O). Valence stabilization of PbCl₂ by adding DMF or a mixture of Ph₃P and SnCl₂ increased the diene selectivity but decreased the activity. Stabilization of Pd(acac)₂ with triethylaluminum (Ziegler catalyst) resulted in increased activity but decreased selectivity. The kinetics of methyl linoleate hydrogenation showed that although Pd(acac)₂ was only half as active as Pd/C, their respective diene selectivity was similar (10.4 and 9.6). The much greater reactivity of conjugated compared with unconjugated linoleate toward Pd(acac)₂ suggests the possible formation of conjugated dienes as intermediates that are rapidly reduced and not detected in the lipid phase during hydrogenation.     

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of soybean oil methyl ester using inorganic formic acid salts as donors

The hydrogenation of soybean oil methyl esters using aqueous formic acid salts solutions and heterogeneous palladium-on-carbon catalyst was investigated. Complete hydrogenation of the methyl ester was achieved by mixing a concentrated aqueous alkali formate solution with the methyl ester at 80 C in the presence of the catalyst (0.2–0.4% Pd). At the initial stages of the reaction, the selectivity was significantly higher than conventional hydrogenation (hydrogenation under pressure) performed with the same catalyste.Cis-trans isomerization was similar to the behavior of conventional techniques.     

Hydrogenation of methyl sorbate and soybean esters with polymer-bound metal catalysts

New polymer-bound hydrogenation catalysts were made by complexing PdCl₂, RhCl₃·3H₂O, or NiCl₂ with anthranilic acid anchored to chloromethylated polystyrene. The Pd(II) and Ni(II) polymers were reduced to the corresponding Pd(O) and Ni(O) catalysts with NaBH₄. In the hydrogenation of methyl sorbate, these polymer catalysts were highly selective for the formation of methyl 2-hexenoate. The diene to monoene selectivity decreased in the order: Pd(II), Pd(O), Rh(I), Ni(II), Ni(O). Kinetic studies support 1,2-reduction of the Δ4 double bond of sorbate as the main path of hydrogenation. In the hydrogenation of soybean esters, the Pd(II) polymer catalysts proved superior because they were more active than the Ni(II) polymers and produced lesstrans unsaturation than the Rh(I) polymers. Hydrogenation with Pd(II) polymers at 50~100 C and 50 to 100 psi H₂ decreased the linolenate content below 3% and increasedtrans unsaturation to 10~26%. The linolenate to linoleate selectivity ranged from 1.6 to 3.2. Reaction parameters were analyzed statistically to optimize hydrogenation. Recycling through 2 or 3 hydrogenations of soybean esters was demonstrated with the Pd(II) polymers. In comparison with commercial Pd-on-alumina, the Pd(II) polymers were less active and as selective in the hydrogenation of soybean esters but more selective in the hydrogenation of methyl sorbate. Presented at ISF-AOCS Meeting, New York, April 1980.     

Selective hydrogenation catalyzed by polymeric palladium and platinum complexes

An organic polymer containing a diphenylbenzyl-phosphine functional group, combined with PtCl₂ or PdCl₂, gives a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst which is analogous to the homogeneous catalysts PtCl₂(Pø₃)₂ and PdCl₂(Pø₃)₂. In the hydrogenation of soybean methyl ester, this catalyst is highly selective, the products being monoene and diene, with almost no increase in the content of saturated ester.     

Low-Pressure Carbonylation of Benzyl Bromide with Palladium Complexes Modified with PNS (PNS = Ph2PCH2CH2C(O)NHC(CH3)2CH2SO3Li) or P(OPh)3. Structural Identification of Palladium-Catalyst Intermediate

The catalytic activities of two palladium complexes with water soluble phosphine PNS (PNS = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂C(O)NHC(CH₃)₂CH₂SO₃Li) (I) and phosphite P(OPh)₃ (II) were tested in the carbonylation of benzyl bromide in methanol at 40–50°C and 1 atm of CO. The first catalyst, (I), was formed in situ from PdCl₂(cod) and PNS, the second one, (II), was based on the PdCl₂(P(OPh)₃)₂ complex. At the ratio of [NEt₃]:[PhCH₂Br] equal to 2.5 the yields of phenylacetic acid methyl ester were 83–86% in the carbonylation with PNS and 100% in the carbonylation with P(OPh)₃. The palladium catalyst with P(OPh)₃ produced under the same conditions 70% of phenylacetic acid methyl ester in the carbonylation of benzyl chloride and 60% of 2-methylphenylacetic acid methyl ester in the carbonylation of 1-bromoethylbenzene. The lower rate of carbonylation of 1-bromoethylbenzyl bromide in comparison to that of benzyl bromide was explained by the lower rate of the substrate oxidative addition step leading to palladium benzyl complexes. Two palladium benzyl complexes, cis-PdBr(PhCH₂)(P(OPh)₃)₂ and trans-PdBr(PhCH(Me))(P(OPh)₃)₂ have been isolated and characterized (X-ray, ³¹P and ¹H NMR).     

Transfer hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenolysis. X. Selective hydrogenation of methyl linoleate by indoline and isopropyl alcohol

The selective hydrogenation of methyl linoleate was studied using indoline and isopropyl alcohol as hydrogen sources. Many transition metal compounds and metallic palladium were examined as catalysts. High selectivity to monoenes and little formation oftrans isomers were realized under mild conditions in some reaction systems. For example, the system in which isopropyl alcohol and RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ were used as hydrogen donor and catalyst was excellent. Also in the hydrogen transfer from indoline to the linoleate catalyzed by PdCl₂ and (NH₄)₂PdCl₄, high selec-tivity was realized. In the RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃-isopropyl alcohol, (NH₄)₂PdCl₄-indoline and PdCl₂-indoline system, methylcis- trans conjugated octadecadienoate was reduced rapidly with complete selectivity, where-as the same hydrogen transfer systems resulted in little if any reaction with methyl oleate. High selec-tivity in the reduction of linoleate is presumed to be realized through prior conjugation of the substrate.     

The selective homogeneous hydrogenation of soybean methyl esters

Soybean methyl esters are homogeneously, selectively hydrogenated in the presence of a variety of catalysts, of which [Pt(Pph₃)₂Cl₂]+SnCl₂·2H₂O and [MoCl₂(CO)₃(Pph₃)₂]+SnCl₂·2H₂O are typical. Many variations can be made in these catalysts without destroying their selectivity. All of the catalysts bring about isomerization of the substrate molecules. The role of the solvent and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed. One of 10 papers to be published from the Symposium “Hydrogenation”, presented at the AOCS Meeting, New Orleans, April 1970.     

New carbon composites containing ultrafine metal particles. 2. Synthesis by pyrolisis of pitch-organometallic blends

Air-stable new carbon composites containing uniformly dispersed ultrafine Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Pd, Rh, or Ag particles were obtained by thermal degradation of coal pitches mixed homogeneously with 1–10% of poly(vinyl ferrocene), cobaltocene, nickelocene, (acenaphthylene) Ru₃(CO)₇, PdCl₂(COD), RhCp(COD), and AgC₆H₄CH₂NMe₂, respectively, at 400–1200°C in Ar. Carbonization yields are 45–55% and the size of metal particles varied from 5 to 65 nm depending upon the treatment temperature and identity of the metal. The carbon composites containing Fe particles showed high Vicat hardness and good electrical conductivity. Pd- and Rh-dispersed materials exhibited good catalysis in hydrogenation of 1-hexene. The composite containing ultrafine Ag particles showed excellent bacteriostatic activity forEscherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andBatchillus subtilis.     

Pd/polyaniline as the catalysts for 2‐ethylanthraquinone hydrogenation. The effect of palladium dispersion

By doping of polyaniline (PANI) in PdCl₂ aqueous and ethanol solutions the catalysts containing crystalline and colloidal Pd particles of different sizes were prepared. The size of palladium particles present in Pd/PANI catalysts (characterised by SEM and XRD methods) influenced the course of 2‐ethylanthraquinone (eAQ) hydrogenation, a key step in the industrial production of H₂O₂. The presence of large palladium particles promotes reactions leading to the formation of the so‐termed “degradation products” not capable of hydrogen peroxide formation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transfer hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenolysis: XII. Selective hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters by various hydrogen donors

The selective hydrogenation of methyl linoleate was studied using various organic compounds as hydrogen sources in the presence of homogeneous and metallic palladium catalysts. Complete selectivity to monoenes and relatively little formation of isolatedtrans double bonds were realized by the hydrogen transfer from L-ascorbic acid at 47% conversion of starting material to hydrogenation products. The hydrogenation bytrans-1,2-cyclohexanediol catalyzed by RuH₂(PPh₃)₄ also showed rather high selectivity tocis-monoenes. In the reaction catalyzed by RuH₂(PPh₃)₄, also showed rather high selectivity tocis-monoenes. In the reaction catalyzed by RuH₂(PPh₃)₄, the presence of these hydroxy compounds increased the isomerization of methyl elaidate tocis-monoenes.     

Synthesis of HFC-134a by isomerization and hydrogenation

For the preparation of HFC-134a, the isomerization of CFC-114 and the hydrogenation of CFC-114a were investigated. Both reactions were catalyzed by AlC₃ and supported Pd catalysts, respectively. For the comparison purpose, the isomerization of CFC-113 was carried out also. With virgin AICI₃ catalyst, both isomerization reactions proceeded after a certain induction period probably because the catalyst needed the activation by the halogen exchange. The catalyst deactivated gradually with the time on stream. However, the deactivation rate could be reduced by removing impurities from the reactants. Isomerization rate of CFC-114 was much slower than that of CFC-113. Palladium supported on carbon catalyzed the hydrogenation reaction quite selectively while the selectivity declined when the support was replaced with different supports. The catalytic activity and selectivity to desired products increased in the following order. Pd/kieselguhr Pd/silica-alumina ≅Pd/silica gel Pd/TiO₂Pd/Al₂O₃Pd/C     

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated fats: Group VIB metal carbonyl complexes

Carbonyl complexes of Cr, Mo and W have been studied as soluble catalysts for the hydrogenation of methyl sorbate and of methyl esters from soybean oil. With methyl sorbate, relative catalytic activity decreased in the approximate order: mesitylene-Mo(CO)₃, cycloheptatriene-Mo(CO)₃, cycloheptatriene-Cr(CO)₃, bicyclo (2,2,1) hepta-2,5-diene-Mo(CO)₄, chlorobenzene-Cr(CO)₃, methyl benzoate-Cr(CO)₃, mesitylene-W(CO)₃, benzene-Cr(CO)₃, toluene-Cr(CO)₃, mesitylene-Cr(CO)₃, and hexamethylbenzene-Cr(CO)₃. Order of catalytic activity was related to thermal stability of the complexes during hydrogenation. With mesitylene-M(CO)₃ complexes, selectivity varied in the order Cr>Mo>W. Under certain conditions the mesitylene complexes of W, Cr and Mo reduced methyl sorbate respectively to methyl 2-, 3-, and 4-hexenoates as main products. The more active and thermally stable Cr(CO)₃ complexes catalyzed effectively the hydrogenation of linoleate and linolenate in soybean oil esters with little or no stearate formation. The hydrogenated products formed with the benzoate complex at 165–175 C contained 50–67% monoene, 18–30% diene, 2–7% conjugated diene, and only 3–7%trans unsaturation. Linolenate-linoleate selectivity values varied from 3 to 5 and linoleate-oleate selectivity from 7 to 80. Monoene fractions had 40–50% of the double bond in the C-9 position; the rest of the unsaturation was distributed mainly between the C-10 and C-12 positions. Conjugation is apparently an intermediate step in the hydrogenation of linoleate and linolenate. The Cr(CO)₃ complexes are unique in catalyzing the hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty esters to monounsaturated fatty esters of lowtrans content. Presented at AOCS-AACC Joint Meeting, Washington, D.C. April, 1968. No. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Unexpected Inversion in Enantioselectivity in the Hydrogenation N-acetyl Dehydrophenylalanine Methyl Ester using Cinchona-Modified Pd/Al2O3 catalyst

The enantioselective hydrogenation of N-acetyl dehydrophenylalanine methyl ester (NADPME) to N-acetyl phenylalanine methyl ester is investigated using cinchona-modified Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The catalyst was prepared using deposition-reduction and was evaluated for the reaction using methanol as solvent with various cinchonine alkaloid/NADPME molar ratios. Enantioselectivity was sensitive to this ratio. For cinchonine at low cinchonine:NADPME molar ratios the S-N-acetyl phenylalanine methyl ester was formed with low enantioselection, and as the cinchonine:NADPME ratio was increased the reaction became less enantioselective. In the extreme the solubility of cinchonine limited the extent of the experimental conditions that could be explored. As expected cinchonidine modified Pd/Al₂O₃ initially gave R-N-acetyl phenylalanine methyl ester, again with low enantioselection. However, as the cinchonidine:NADPME molar ratio was increased the reaction initially became racemic and then was selective to the formation of S-N-acetyl phenylalanine methyl ester. This unexpected inversion in the sense of enantioselection was observed in a range of solvents.     

Selective homogeneous hydrogenation of triunsaturated fats catalyzed by tricarbonyl chromium complexes

The need for a selective catalyst to hydrogenate linolenate in soybean oil has prompted our continuing study of various model triunsaturated fats. Hydrogenation of methylβ-eleostearate (methyltrans,trans,trans-9,11,13-octadecatrienoate) with Cr(CO)₃ complexes yielded diene products expected from 1,4-addition (trans-9,cis-12- andcis-10,trans-13-octadecadienoates). Withα-eleostearate (cis,trans,trans-9,11,13-octadecatrienoate), stereoselective 1,4-reduction of thetrans,trans-diene portion yielded linoleate (cis,cis-9,12-octadecadienoate). However,cis,trans-1,4-dienes were also formed from the apparent isomerization ofα- toβ-eleostearate. Hydrogenation of methyl linolenate (methylcis,cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoate) produced a mixture of isomeric dienes and monoenes attributed to conjugation occurring as an intermediate step. The hydrogenation ofα-eleostearin in tung oil was more stereoselective in forming thecis,cis-diene than the corresponding methyl ester. Hydrogenation of linseed oil yielded a mixture of dienes and monoenes containing 7%trans unsaturation. We have suggested how the mechanism of stereoselective hydrogenation with Cr(CO)₃ catalysts can be applied to the problem of selective hydrogenation of linolenate in soybean oil. No. Market. Nutr. Res. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Polymerization of N-substituted 2-propynamides with transition metal catalysts

Summary Polymerization of N-substituted 2-propynamides proceeded in the presence of Pd(II) catalysts such as [Pd(CH₃CN)₄](BF₄)₂, PdCl₂(PhCN)₂-n-BuLi, and PdCl₂(nbd)-n-BuLi. The molecular weights of the obtained polymers ranged 8,500 to 14,000, depending on the catalysts. From the ¹H NMR spectra, these polymers were found to have alternating double bonds in the main chain. Received: 25 December 2000/Revised version: 17 January 2001/Accepted: 19 January 2001     

Catalytic hydrogenation of linoleic acid on nickel,copper, and palladium

The catalytic activity and selectivity for hydrogenation of linoleic acid were studied on Ni, Cu, and Pd catalysts. A detailed analysis of the reaction product was performed by a gas-liquid chromatograph, equipped with a capillary column, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. Geometrical and positional isomerization of linoleic acid occurred during hydrogenation, and many kinds of linoleic acid isomers (trans-9,trans-12; trans-8,cis-12 orcis-9,trans-13; cis-9,trans-12; trans-9,cis-12 andcis-9,cis-12 18∶2) were contained in the reaction products. The monoenoic acids in the partial hydrogenation products contained eight kinds of isomers and showed different isomer distributions on Ni, Cu, and Pd catalysts, respectively. The positional isomers of monoenoic acid were produced by double-bond migration during hydrogenation. On Ni and Pd catalysts, the yield ofcis-12 andtrans-12 monoenoic acids was larger than that ofcis-9 andtrans-9 monoenoic acids. On the contrary, the yield ofcis-9 andtrans-9 monoenoic acids was larger than that ofcis-12 andtrans-12 monoenoic acids on Cu catalyst. From these results, it is concluded that the double bond closer to the methyl group (Δ12) and that to the carboxyl group (Δ9) show different reactivity for hydrogenation on Ni, Cu, and Pd catalysts. Monoenoic acid formation was more selective on Cu catalyst than on Ni and Pd catalysts.     

Homogeneous hydrogenation of dienes with rhodium complexes

Different Rh complex catalysts were compared for the hydrogenation of methyl sorbate and linoleate in the absence of solvents. At 100 C and 1 atm H₂ the following complexes, RhCl(Ph₃ P)₃ (Ph= phenyl), [RhClNBD]₂ (NBD=norbornadiene) and RhH(CO)(Ph₃P)₃, produced mainly methyltrans-2-hexenoate (34 to 56%). Their diene selectivity was not particularly high as they produced 14 to 41% methyl hexanoate. With RhCl(Ph₃ P)₃ constant ratios between rates of methyl sorbate disappearance and formation of methyltrans-2- andtrans-3-hexenoate indicate approximately the same activation energy for 1,2-addition of H₂ on the Δ4 double bond of methyl sorbate and for 1,4-addition to this substrate. In the hydrogenation of methyl linoleate with RhCl(Ph₃ P)₃, the kinetic curves were simulated by a scheme in which 1,2-reduction was more than twice as important as 1,4-addition of H₂ via conjugated diene intermediates. Although the complexes RhCl(CO)(Ph₃ P)₃ and [Rh(NBD)(diphos)]⁺PF₆ (diphos=diphosphine) were inactive in the hydrogenation of methyl sorbate, they catalyzed the hydrogenation of methyl linoleate at 100 C and 1 atm. Catalyst inhibition apparently was caused by stronger complex formation with methyl sorbate than with the conjugated dienes formed from methyl linoleate.     

Oxidative carbonylation of phenol to diphenyl carbonate catalyzed by Pd complex with diimine ligands

Pd complexes with diimine ligands were investigated as novel Pd catalysts for direct synthesis of diphenyl carbonate by oxidative carbonylation of phenol using carbon monoxide and air. Best efficiency was obtained by using a PdCl₂(ArN=CH–)₂ or PdCl₂(ArN=CMe–)₂/Mn(TMHD)₃/(Ph₃P=)₂NBr system where TOF reached 8.08 and 8.00 mol-DPC/mol-Pd h, respectively. The efficiency was increased with increases in the CO pressure.     

Hydroesterification of 1-alkenes in Supercritical Carbon dioxide

The palladium catalysed hydroesterification of linear alkenes to obtain carboxylic esters in supercritical carbon dioxide is studied for the first time. Palladium complexes with phosphines containing –CF₃ groups are used as catalyst precursors. For 1-hexene, conversions into the corresponding methyl esters up to 67% were obtained using [PdCl₂(PhCN)₂]/P(3,5-CF₃C₆H₄)₃.     

Irreversible Catalytic Ester Hydrolysis of Allyl Esters to Give Acids and Aldehydes by Homogeneous Ruthenium and Ruthenium/Palladium Dual Catalyst Systems

An irreversible hydrolysis reaction of allyl esters ( 1 ) into carboxylic acids ( 2 ) and propanal ( 3 ) was achieved with a ruthenium/palladium (Ru/Pd) dual catalyst system. The optimized catalysts consists of a 1:1:1 mixture of (cyclopentadienyl)tris(acetonitrile)ruthenium hexafluorophosphate {[RuCp(MeCN)₃] PF₆}, bis(acetonitrile)palladium dichloride [PdCl₂(MeCN)₂] and 1,6‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)hexane (DPPHex). The reaction proceeds via isomerization of allyl esters to 1‐propenyl esters and hydrolysis of them to give 2 and 3 . The first isomerization step was virtually catalyzed by the Ru components and the second hydrolysis step was mainly catalyzed by the Pd components. The optimized bidentate phosphine (DPPHex) which has long alkylene chain effectively generates two vacant sites on the Ru centers by bridging coordination. When a chelating bidentate phosphine such as DPPE was employed, only one vacant site remained on the Ru center and resulted in a low activity. This chelating Ru complex of DPPE formed even in the presence of 2 equivalents of Ru or additional 1 equivalent of Pd. These differences in coordination behaviour between DPPHex and 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane (DPPE) cause the differences of the catalytic activity in the first step. The phosphine coordination to Pd center slightly decreases the activity of second hydrolysis step but which was compensated by the increasing of the stability of Pd. On the whole, the optimized Ru/Pd dual catalyst system exhibited good performances on the irreversible hydrolysis of allyl esters.