Advances and Challenges in Development of Transition Metal Catalysts for Heterogeneous Hydrogenation of Organic Compounds

Actual problems of development of catalysts for hydrogenation of heterocyclic compounds by hydrogen are summarized and discussed. The scope of review covers composites of nanoparticles of platinum group metals and 3d metals for heterogeneous catalytic processes. Such problems include increase of catalyst activity, which is important for reduction of precious metals content; development of new catalytic systems which do not contain metals of platinum group or contain cheaper analogues of Pd; control of factors which make influence on the selectivity of the catalysts; achievement of high reproducibility of the catalyst‘s performance and quality control of the catalysts. Own results of the authors are also summarized and described. The catalysts were prepared by decomposition of Pd⁰ and Ni⁰ complexes, pyrolysis of Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ complexes deposited on aerosil and reduction of Ni²⁺ in pores of porous support in situ. The developed catalysts were used for hydrogenation of multigram batches of heterocyclic compounds.