METAL-POLYMER MICRODISPERSIONS AS PSEUDOHOMOGENEOUS CATALYSTS

Stable metal microdispersions can be prepared using some polyelectroly tes such as quaternized poly(vinylpyridine). Microdispersions of Pd (P d/PVP) were shown to be very effective catalysts for generation of hyd rogen from formate or hypophosphite. The degree of dispersion and the activity of the catalysts were measured by the gas chromatography puls e technique. Comparison was made with commercially available heterogen eous Pd on carbon catalysts (Pd/C). Transmission electron microscopy m easurements showed that the size of the Pd clusters, in the microdispe rsions, was of the order of 1 nm.