Polyethyleneimine-Modified Polymer as an Efficient Palladium Scavenger and Effective Catalyst Support for a Functional Heterogeneous Palladium Catalyst

The polyethyleneimine-modified polymers, polystyrene-divinylbenzene-based (TAs) and polymethacrylate-based polymers (TAm), were used as palladium scavengers to eliminate residual palladium species after palladium on carbon-catalyzed Sonogashira-type coupling reaction. Since both TAs and TAm indicated relatively favorable elimination abilities toward residual palladium species in the reaction mixture, the affinities of TAs and TAm for palladium species were used as supports for palladium catalysts. The TAm-supported palladium catalyst (Pd/TAm) indicated better catalyst properties for the chemoselective hydrogenation compared to those of the corresponding TAs-supported palladium catalyst (Pd/TAs). Aromatic benzyl ethers; aromatic and aliphatic N -Cbzs; and aromatic carbonyl groups were smoothly hydrogenated in the presence of 1-5 mol % of Pd/TAm in MeOH or 2-PrOH. In contrast, the hydrogenation of aromatic ketones was selectively suppressed in morpholine which act as appropriate catalyst poison and solvent. Furthermore, Pd/TAm-catalyzed chemoselective hydrogenation was applicable to continuous-flow reaction.