Influence of heterogenization on catalytic behavior of mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles formed in poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) micelles

Influence of heterogenization on catalytic properties of block copolymer micellar catalysts derived from polystyrene-block-poly-4-vinylpyridine and containing Pd monometallic and bimetallic PdAu, PdPt, and PdZn nanoparticles has been studied in selective hydrogenation of the triple bond of 3,7-dimethyloctaen-6-yne-1-ol-3 (dehydrolinalool). We demonstrate that the heterogenization can both increase and decrease catalytic activity depending on the type of NPs. In the absence of a modifying metal (Pd monometallic nanoparticles) or for PdZn nanoparticles where Zn is the electron donor, the activity of heterogenized catalysts increases, while for PdAu and PdPt based catalysts, where the modifying metal is the electron acceptor, the activity decreases. These changes are explained by the increased polarity of the catalyst after deposition on alumina (addition of a component with a higher dielectric constant) offset by poor accessibility of some catalytic sites of nanoparticles containing electron deficient Pd atoms.