Generating palladium nanoclusters inside very lipophilic gel-type functional resins: preliminary catalytic tests in the hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone to 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone

Four lipophilic polystyrene–methacryloylethylensulfonic acid–divinylbenzene gel-type resins, with 2 and 4% cross-linking degree, are synthesized and used as supports for “atomic” dispersion of Pd(II) finalized to the preparation of resins-supported palladium metal catalysts. Properly performed reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(0) achieves homogeneous dispersion of ca. 3 nm metal nanoclusters inside the supports particles in the more cross-linked resin. Resulting resin-supported palladium catalysts are efficient and moderately