Microwave assisted hydrogenation of olefins by Pd NPs@polystyrene resin using a gas addition kit: a robust and sustainable protocol

Abstract

Polystyrene (PS) resin bead supported palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs@PS resin) were prepared and their catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of olefins was investigated under microwave heating. The hydrogenation of styrene was effectively carried out in EtOH/H₂O, in the presence of 0.00035 mmol of the catalyst to afford the corresponding ethylbenzene in high yield within 20 min under microwave heating. The catalyst efficiency measured in terms of turn over number (TON) and turn over frequency (TOF) was found to be 2829 and 8573 (h⁻¹), respectively. The encapsulated palladium nanoparticles were easily recovered by a simple filtration method and reused several times without significant loss in their catalytic activity. Further, the method showed a wide substrate scope under mild reaction conditions, making it a green versatile and highly sustainable protocol.