Hydrogenolysis of hydroxymatairesinol over carbon-supported palladium catalysts

The natural lignan hydroxymatairesinol was hydrogenolysed to a potential anticarcinogenic substance matairesinol over different carbon-supported palladium catalysts. The reaction was conducted in 2-propanol at 70 degrees C under hydrogen flow in a stirred glass reactor. The catalysts were characterised by N-2-physisorption, CO pulse chemisorption and pH measurement of aqueous catalyst slurries. The most active catalyst (Degussa-Huls) gave yields of matairesinol over 90% in 4 h. It was concluded that the acidity of the catalyst had a profound influence on the reaction rate.