POLY[(MALEIC ACID)-CO-STYRENE]-PLATINUM COMPLEX - A CATALYST FOR THE HYDROGENATION OF METHYL FORMATE

Coordinate bonds form between oxygen and platinum atoms in crosslinked poly[(maleic acid)-co-styrene]-platinum complex according to FTIR and XPS measurements. The complex is demonstrated to be an active and sel ective catalyst for the hydrogenation of methyl formate under mild con ditions (25 degrees C, 1 atm H-2). Methyl formate can be converted sel ectively to methanol in 82.6% yield within 6 h at a COOH/Pt mole ratio of 17.85 in the complex with n-propanol as the solvent. The catalyst exhibits high stability, with turnover number (mol of methyl formate c onverted/mol of platinum) of the catalyst reaching 1064 within 48 h.