Carbon Molecular Sieve Supported Pd Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde in Alkaline Medium

Abstract

Synthesis of various fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals are regulated through selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Hydrocinnamaldehyde is one of the important compounds in perfumery and flavouring industries. It is highly precarious and challenging to control the product selectivity as well as conversion in cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation. In this study, an effective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde was attained in presence of aqueous-protic organic medium by utilizing Pd/CMS and other additives of alkali such as K2CO3. The Pd/CMS catalyst along with alkali media catalyzed the hydrogenation of C=C selectively in cinnamaldehyde in order to form hydrocinnamaldehyde with 100% conversion rate. Additionally, the parallel hydrogenation of C=O and C=C bonds in cinnamaldehyde takes place in absence of media. The C=O bond reduction in cinnamaldehyde can be restricted through K2CO3 addition to aqueous-protic solution. The active sites of palladium were found to be uniform and analyzed using HRTEM data. Based on the mechanism involved in micropores of carbon molecular sieves, the key role of promoter is associated with hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. The catalytic criterion was appropriate with the acquired activity data.