New palladium catalysts on polyketone prepared through different smart methodologies and their use in the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

For the first time, polyketone (poly-3-oxotrimethylene, PK) has been employed as support for Pd nanoparticles.
Three different approaches have been adopted: (i) reduction of Pd(OAc)2 in EtOH under microwave
irradiation, (ii) hydrothermal reduction of the same precursor in EtOH or n-BuOH employing traditional
heating and (iii) vaporization of Pd metal through metal vapour synthesis. These supported systems have
been characterized by solid state NMR, TEM, ICP, XPS, BET and tested in the selective hydrogenation of
cinnamaldehyde (CAL) to hydrocinnamaldehyde (HCAL) as probe reaction. Their catalytic performances
have been compared in relation to their preparation procedure and morphology. It is remarkable that
these catalysts do not show significant leaching even after several catalytic recycles, thus indicating their
high stability and recyclability, ascribed to a stabilizing capacity of this particular polymeric support.