Highly efficient and selective hydrogenation of α, β-unsaturated nitriles using supported palladium catalyst

Solutions of α, β-unsaturated nitriles in ethyl acetate were hydrogenated selectively into the corresponding nitriles by using a recyclable catalyst, which consists of palladium nanoparticles entrapped in aluminum oxyhydroxide, Pd/AlO(OH) matrix. The reactions were conducted at room temperature and one atmosphere H₂ pressure. Under identical reaction conditions just by changing solvent, reaction time and increasing catalyst amount the substrate α, β-unsaturated nitriles transformed selectively into tertiary amines. The catalyst can be reused for at least five runs without affecting activity and selectivity. The applicability of this methodology is demonstrated to variety of α, β-unsaturated nitriles.