Size effect of Pd nanoparticles in the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene

The liquid-phase hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene over Pd catalysts supported on Al2O3 with different specific surface areas has been investigated. A decrease in the specific surface area of the support leads to a marked increase in the selectivity of the reaction. The observed increase in the selectivity is due to the increase in the size of Pd0 nanoparticles. As a result, the specific rate of triple bond hydrogenation increases over the rate of the undesired hydrogenation of the olefinic intermediate and the efficiency of kinetic control over the selectivity of the overall process is enhanced.