Pd-Nanoparticles Stabilized by Pyridine-Functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol)as Catalyst for the Aerobic Oxidation of alpha, beta-Unsaturated Alcohols in Water

Pyridine-end-functionalized poly(ethyleneglycol) was used to stabilize Pd-NPs, which were obtained by the reduction of defined Pd-macrocomplexes with hydrogen. The obtained Pd catalysts were employed to catalyze the areobic oxidation of alpha,beta unsaturated alcohols in water to the corresponding carbonyl compounds. The type of Pd-macrocomplex used (i.e. molar ratio between macroligand and Pd(II)) determined the final NPs' size and the stability of the latter against agglomeration in the course of the catalytic reaction.