Catalytic activity of a supported palladium-benzimidazole complex toward alkene hydrogenation

A polymer anchored palladium complex was synthesized by sequential attachment of benzimidazole and palladium chloride to chloromethylated polystyrene divinyl benzene co-polymer with 6.5 % cross-linking. The product was characterized by XPS, UV-vis. spectrophotometry, FTIR and TGA. Various physico-chemical properties such as bulk density, surface area and swelling behavior in different solvents were also measured. The polymer anchored complex was tested as a catalyst for reduction of olefins. The kinetics of hydrogenation of 1-hexene was studied by varying the temperature, catalyst concentration and substrate concentration. The energy and entropy of activation were evaluated from the kinetic data. The catalyst could be recycled a number of times and no leaching of metal from the catalyst surface was observed.