Bimetallic synergic effect in the selective catalytic hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

The bimetallic catalysts, pdcl2-0.5my-pph3 [my = nicl2, ni(oac)(2), fe(acac)(3), co(oac)(2), co(acac)(2) or cocl2] reduced by nabh4, exhibit much higher selectivity in comparison with that of the monometallic pa catalyst in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to 3-phenylpropanal at 66 degrees c under atmospheric pressure, a strong synergic effect occurs between pd and the second metal component for the high selectivity. among these catalysts, pdcl2-0.5co(oac)(2)-pph3 reduced by nabh4 is the best catalyst.