Interpenetrating Organometallic Polymer Networks in heterogeneous catalysis: mild hydrogenation of p-nitrotoluene

A cross-linked organometallic macroporous copolymer (P1) and an interpenetrating organometallic polymer network (IOPN) material (C1), both based on the organometallic monomer cis-(PdCl2(CN CH2)3OC(O)CHCH2)2) (1), are catalytically active and reusable in the mild and selective hydrogenation of p-nitrotoluene to p- toluidine in methanol, under ambient conditions. The IOPN catalyst C1 is generated by the dispersion of a copolymer of 1 inside a macroporous poly-dimethylacrylamide-methylenebisacrylamide matrix to give an expectedly microporous organometallic matrix which exhibits a catalytic productivity quite similar to that displayed by P1. The productivity of both catalysts is comparable to that exhibited by commercial Pd/C under the same conditions, with P1 and C1 far superior in terms of separability and handiness.