Interpenetrating organometallic polymer networks in heterogeneous metal catalysis: A preliminary evaluation

An organometallic copolymer and an organometallic interpenetrating polymer network, both containing palladium(II) centres, have been tested as catalysts for the hydrogenation of p-nitrotoluene in methanol under pure dihydrogen (5 atm) and at room temperature. After activation in situ by reduction of palladium(II) to metallic palladium, both materials promote the selective conversion of the substrate to p-toluidine. The apparent reaction rates are comparable with that observed when the same reaction is carried out in the presence of a commercial Pd/C catalysts