Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of citral on calcined layered double hydroxides

The catalytic transfer hydrogenation of citral with 2-propanol (a Meerwein- Pondorf-Verley reaction) on basic catalysts obtained by calcination of Mg/A l, Mg/Al, Ga, Mg/Ga, Mg/In and Ca/Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was s tudied. The LDHs used were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the ir textural and surface chemical properties were determined. All the cataly sts studied were found to provide excellent results as regards catalytic ac tivity and selectivity in the hydrogenation process. Conversion always exce eded 95% and selectivity 90% within the first 40 h of reaction. The catalyt ic activity of the LDHs was found to be a function of surface basicity (the most basic catalysts were also the most active ones). (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.