Palladium catalysts have been used to study the hydrogenation of 1-phenyl-2-butene-1-ol which is accompanied by several side reactions considered to be acid-catalysed. Another model reaction studied was dehydration and subsequent hydrogenation or hydrogenolysis of 1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol to 3-phenyl-1-propanol, accompanied by formation of propylbenzene. The dehydration and propylbenzene formation can be again classified as acid-catalysed reactions. Another one is methanolysis of styrene oxide taking place under conditions of liquid phase hydrogenation due to the acid properties of Pd-H systems. Hydrogenation activity of Pd catalysts was tested by hydrogenation of cyclohexene. Sixteen Pd catalysts on different supports and with different content of active component were used, their activity and selectivity was determined and the effect of variable parameters in the synthesis of these catalysts on the activity and selectivity is discussed.
