Crotonaldehyde hydrogenation over clay-supported platinum catalysts

Two clay-supported platinum catalysts were prepared by impregnation and tested in the liquid phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde. Over both catalysts, the unsaturated alcohol selectivity was increased (to 49%) compared to that obtained over platinum on conventional supports (maximum 20%). The effect of the solvent, the subtrate initial concentration, the hydrogen pressure and the reaction time was studied. The benefic effect of the support was observed only if an alcohol was used as solvent. A deuterium tracer study revealed the coaction of the Lewis acid sites of the clay supports in adsorption of the substrate leading to an increase in the crotyl alcohol selectivity. The self poisoning of the metal over the clay-supported catalysts was supposed to inhibit the C=C group hydrogenation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.