HYDROGENATION CATALYTIC BEHAVIORS OF PALLADIUM COMPLEXES OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN

Palladium complexes of chitin and chitosan have been shown to have catalytic activities for hydrogenation at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure. They could catalyze not only reduction of olefines but also aromatic nitro-compounds and acrylic acid. And they are very active, stable and selective. They also show different catalytic behaviors in different pH solutions. It is noteworthy that the catalytic activities of the two polymer-supported metal complexes in the cycle of pH 11 --> pH 2 --> pH 11 are reversible.