Facile Light-Mediated Preparation of Small Polymer-Coated Palladium-Nanoparticles and Their Application as Catalysts for Alkyne Semi-Hydrogenation

A facile light-mediated preparation of small palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) with a diameter of 1.3 nm and low dispersity by using low-priced and readily prepared photoactive polymers is presented. These polymers act as reagents for the photochemical reduction of Pd ions and they are also stabilizers for the PdNPs generated in situ. The PdNP–polymer hybrid materials prepared by this reliable approach are efficient hydrogenation catalysts that show high activity and Z-selectivity in the semi-hydrogenation of alkynes. These PdNP–catalyst hybrid materials can be readily recycled and reused up to five times.