Metal cation-doped MCM-41 (M-MCM-41, M=Al, Ce, Co, V, or Zr) supported Pd
catalysts (Pd/M-MCM-41) were prepared by a solution-based reduction method.
The catalysts were characterized by Xray diffraction (XRD) analysis, infrared
spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission
electron microscopy (TEM), and further evaluated by selective hydrogenation
of parachloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) in anhydrous ethanol. The metal
cationcontaining Pd catalysts can efficiently enhance the selectivity for
parachloroaniline (p-CAN). The highest selectivity of 96.5 % in the molar
distribution for p-CNB to p-CAN was acquired over Pd (1.8 wt. %)/VMCM- 41
(Si/V=30, molar ratio) catalyst, and the corresponding turnover frequency
(TOF) was 1.24?10-2 mol p-CNB mol-1 Pd s-1. Water molecules adsorbed by the
support have important effects on both the catalytic activity of the sample
and the selectivity for p-CAN. A water molecule-mediated catalytic
hydrogenation is discussed.