Highly efficient aqueous phase chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes catalysed by phosphine-decorated polymer immobilized IL-stabilized PdNPs

Phosphino-decorated polymer immobilised ionic liquid phase stabilised palladium nanoparticles (PdNP@PPh₂-PIILP) and their PEGylated counterparts (PdNP@PPh₂-PEGPIILP) are remarkably active and exceptionally selective catalysts for the aqueous phase hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, ketones, esters and nitriles with PdNP@PPh₂-PEGPIILP giving complete conversion and 100% selectivity for reduction of the C=C bond, under mild conditions. This is the most selective PdNP-based system to be reported for the aqueous phase hydrogenation of this class of substrates.