MECHANISTIC STUDY OF HYDROGENATION OF CYCLOHEXENE CATALYZED BY POLYMER-SUPPORTED PALLADIUM(II) COMPLEX IN VARIOUS SOLVENTS

Gelular poly(vinylpyridine)-supported palladium catalysts and their an alogue have been prepared, and used to study the mechanism of hydrogen ation and the solvent effect on catalytic activities. When the polymer -supported Pd catalyst was used in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene, a n induction period is observed. The hydrogenation occurs via heterolyt ic activation of hydrogen. The relationship between the rate of hydrog enation and the solubility parameter of the solvent shows a concave cu rve with a minimum value at which point the polymer and solvent have s imilar solubility parameters. The mechanism of hydrogenation of cycloh exene has been suggested.