Highly chemoselective hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone to 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone catalyzed by palladium metal dispersed inside highly lipophilic functional resins

Most hydrogen peroxide is currently produced by the selective hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone to 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone, followed by tratment with dioxygen: this produces hydrogen peroxide and regenerates 2-ethylanthraquinone We have developed novel catalysts for this process that are based on palladium supported on very lipophilic functional resins and that are able to promote a chemioselectivity for 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone slightly but definitely superior to that provided by an industrial catalyst under identical conditions. This finding demonstrates the potential of variations of the lipophilic/hydrophilic character of the support as a tool for the improvement of the chemoselectivity of resin-based metal catalysts.