Title of Invention

SUPPORTED NOBLE METAL CATALYST

Abstract A supported noble metal catalyst comprising palladium salts enveloped by colloids applied to the support is produced by hydrolysing a palladium salt solution by means of a base and applying the colloidal suspension to a support. The catalyst can be used in hydrogenations.
Full Text The present invention relates to a supported noble metal
catalyst, a process for producing it and its use.
Catalysts are used in chemical processes to increase the
reaction rate. The catalyst reduces the activation energy

and thus makes the reaction faster.
The addition of additional auxiliaries to effect an
additional increase in the activity is known for various
reactions. The type of auxiliaries depends on the
particular reaction. Thus, for example, the addition of
acids to the reaction medium in hydrogenation in order to
increase the selectivities and activities is known.
This is known, for example, for the debenzylation of benzyl
ethers and benzylamines or the selective hydrogenation of
organic nitriles to amines.
The debenzylation of benzyl ethers proceeds very tardily or
is completely inhibited under neutral to basic conditions
(H. Sajiki, Tetrahedron Letters 36, 1995, 3465). The
addition of acid can accelerate the reaction.
US patent 6,992,037 gives a general description of
debenzylations under acid conditions in the presence of
polar solvents, a low hydrogen pressure and relatively high
temperatures. Typical reaction conditions are a reaction
temperature in the range from 5°C to 100°C, a hydrogen
pressure of from 1 to 10 bar and alcohols or acidic
solvents.
US patent 6,992,037 describes the production of palladium
on activated carbon catalysts, in which sodium
tetrachloropalladate is brought to a pH of 8 by means of
sodium carbonate solution. This pH and the use of the
relatively weak base sodium carbonate results in complete

conversion of the palladium chloride into palladium
hydroxide. However, no mention is made of the presence of
palladium chloride, which is an important aspect of the
present invention.
It is also known from the literature that the type of
catalyst has a strong influence on the debenzylation
reaction (Studer, Martin; Blasser, Hans-Ulrich, Journal of
Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical (1996), 112(3), 437-445).
Accordingly, the following influences have a positive
effect on the reaction rate and the selectivity of the
debenzylation: oxidic palladium, shell distribution of the
palladium on the support and high metal loading. Strong and
weak acids are known as modifiers in order to increase the
reaction rate of the debenzylation. Thus, 4-chloro-N,N-
dibenzylaniline and 4-chloro-N-benzylaniline can be
converted very quickly and selectively into 4-chloroaniline
by addition of catalytic amounts of HC1 to the reaction
mixture.
The selective conversion of 4-chloro-N,N-dibenzylaniline
into 4-chloroaniline preferably takes place at a pH of less
than 4 (A. David, A. Vannice, NACS Philadelphia 2005 0-36).
In the O-debenzylation of dibenzyl ether, hydrogenation is
inhibited by addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.
On the other hand, addition of HC1 results in the inhibited
reaction now taking place and proceeding to completion.
In the hydrogenation of nitriles, the selectivity is
influenced in a targeted manner by addition of acid (S.
Nishimura, Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalytic
Hydrogenation for Organic Synthesis, published by John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2001) .
In these known processes, the acid, for example
hydrochloric acid, has to be added to the reaction solution
in each case.

The production of Pd/C catalysts by impregnation of an
activated carbon with palladium(II) chloride and subsequent
reduction and washing-out of the HC1 formed in the
reduction (process described by Mozingo) or by
precipitation of palladium chloride as palladium hydroxide
on the activated carbon (process described by Pearlman) is
also known (S. Nishimura, Handbook of Heterogeneous
Catalytic Hydrogenation for Organic Synthesis, published by
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2001).
Further known processes use a preneutralized palladium
chloride solution which is subsequently applied to the
activated carbon (US 3,804,779).
Palladium colloids are formed during the preneutralization.
A palladium-on-activated carbon catalyst which can be used
for hydrogenolysis reactions is also known (EP 1 238 700
Al) . An important aspect here is that all of the noble
metal is present in the form of the hydroxides and oxides.
When these catalysts are used in reactions involving
hydrogen, the oxides and hydroxides are reduced to metallic
palladium and water according to the following reaction
equation:
PdO + H2 -> Pd° + H20
Pd(OH)2 + H2 -> Pd° + 2 H20
No change in the pH occurs here.
To increase the reaction rate, it is necessary to add an
acid in the case of these known catalysts.
The separate addition of inorganic acid to the reaction
medium has the disadvantage that metering problems can
occur. Furthermore, nonuniform distribution of the acid in
the reaction medium can occur, so that it is not always
possible to ensure that the reaction proceeds uniformly.

It is an object of the invention to provide a catalyst
which produces an acid while being used in a catalytic
reaction.
The invention provides a supported noble metal catalyst
which is characterized in that palladium salts which are
enveloped by colloids of palladium hydroxide/oxide and/or
palladium hydroxide/oxide compounds have been applied to
the support.
The catalyst of the invention can have a pH of less than 3,
in particular from 3 to 1.5, after reduction by means of

hydrogen.
The invention further provides a process for producing the
supported noble metal catalyst, which is characterized in
that an aqueous noble metal salt solution is hydrolysed by
addition of bases, the colloidal suspension formed is
applied to a support and the support is filtered off.
In the process of the invention, chloro-hydroxy-palladium
colloids are produced in a targeted manner in the first
step during the catalyst preparation. These colloids are
then applied to the support in the second step. The chloro-
hydroxy-palladium colloids produced according to the
invention are insensitive to further hydrolysis of the
palladium chloride.
In the process of the invention, it is possible to use
palladium or a mixture of palladium with other noble metals
of group VIII as noble metal for producing chloro-hydroxo
colloids of the noble metals of group VIII of the Periodic
Table.
Alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxides can be
used for producing the colloids.
For the purposes of the invention, it is important to use
strong bases, e.g. NaOH, which lead to incomplete

hydrolysis of the palladium chloride. This is achieved by
setting the pH during the hydrolysis to values of
preferably below 7, particularly preferably below 6.
The chloro-hydroxy-noble metal colloids obtained can be
applied to a support.
As support, it is possible to use all customary supports,
in particular activated carbon, carbon black, carbon
aerogel, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres, aluminium
oxide, silicon dioxide, barium sulphate, calcium carbonate
and/or titanium dioxide.
The activated carbon can have been activated by means of
steam, phosphoric acid, zinc chloride or in another way.
Furthermore, a subsequently modified activated carbon as
described in US 6,992,037 or as described in WO 2006/133081
can be used.
The catalysts of the invention can be used in catalytic
reactions, in particular hydrogenations, in which the use
of acid is beneficial.
It has to be assumed that the chloro compounds in the
interior of the colloids are protected by the envelope of
hydroxo compounds, as illustrated in Figure 1. Under
hydrogenation conditions, both the hydroxy-palladium
complexes and the chloro-palladium complexes are reduced.
This forms HC1, resulting in a decrease in the pH.
Pd(OH) (Cl)+H2 -» Pd° + H20 + HCl
PdCl2 + H2 -» Pd° + 2HC1
The catalysts produced in this way generate an acid during
the catalytic hydrogenation and bring about a significantly
higher reaction rate for catalytic hydrogenations.
The catalysts of the invention are particularly useful for

the deprotection of benzyl ethers, benzylamines,
dibenzylamines, benzyl alcohols, benzyl acetals, benzyl-
protected amino acids and peptides, etc. The removal of
other protective groups, e.g. N-benzyloxycarbonyl groups
(Z or Cbz), 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), etc., is
also possible.
A summary overview of protective groups which can be
removed by means of the heterogeneous catalysts of the
invention is given by the monograph by Kocienski
(Protecting Groups, 3rd Edition, 2005, Georg Thieme Verlag
Stuttgart).
The protective groups are used in the organic synthesis of
intermediates and end products for life science and fine
chemicals. The production of pharmaceutical products,
herbicides and insecticides, in particular, often requires
the use of a protective group which has to be removed again
during or at the end of the synthesis.

Example 1:
Unreduced palladium on activated carbon catalyst according
to the invention
Production of a solution of chloro-hydroxy-palladium
colloid
A solution comprising 500 ml of deionized water and 5.00 g
of palladium as palladium(II) chloride was admixed with
45 ml of a 10% strength sodium hydroxide solution at room
temperature while stirring. The solution was stirred for a
further 30 minutes. A pH of 6.0 was established.
Fixing of the chloro-hydroxy-palladium colloids to an
activated carbon support
The chloro-hydroxy-palladium colloids formed are
precipitated on the support by addition of this solution to
a suspension of 95.0 g of commercially available activated
carbon in 500 ml of deionized water. The suspension was
subsequently heated to 80°C. The suspension was then
filtered hot and subsequently washed with 1000 ml of
deionized water.
The unreduced catalyst obtained in this way had a palladium
content of 5.0%. It has a pH of 3.7. After reduction with
hydrogen, the catalyst has a pH of 2.3.
Example 2:
Reduced palladium on activated carbon catalyst (comparison)
A reduced 5% palladium-on-activated carbon catalyst was
produced by a method based on US patent 3,804,779 (Kent and
Evans 1974) .
A solution comprising 500 ml of deionized water and 5.00 g
of palladium as palladium(II) chloride was admixed with
50 ml of a 10% strength sodium carbonate solution at room

temperature while stirring and stirred for a further
2 hours. At the end of the stirring time, a pH of 5.85 had
been established.
This solution was then introduced into a suspension of 95 g
of activated carbon in 500 ml of deionized water. The
hydrolysis was completed by heating to 80°C. The catalyst
was reduced by means of formaldehyde. The suspension was
filtered hot and the solid was subsequently washed with
1000 ml of deionized water.
The reduced catalyst obtained in this way had a palladium
content of 5.0%.
Example 3:
Unreduced palladium on activated carbon catalyst
(comparison)
The preparation was carried out by a method analogous to
Example 2, except that the catalyst was worked up without prior
reduction. This gives an unreduced catalyst having a palladium
content of 5.0%.
The catalyst has a pH of 5.0. After reduction with
hydrogen, the pH is 3.6.
Use Example 1:
The catalysts produced as described in Example 1-3 were
tested in the debenzylation of dibenzyl ether. From Example
1+3, the unreduced catalyst was used. In each case,
60 mmol of dibenzyl ether was dissolved in 100 ml of THF.
This solution was hydrogenated in the presence of 200 mg of
the catalysts described at a pressure of 1 bar of hydrogen
and a temperature of 25°C. The reaction times to complete
conversion were determined. Table 1 shows the results in
detail:


In addition, the hydrogen consumption during the reaction
was plotted (Figure 2). It can be seen very clearly that
the catalyst according to the present invention is
significantly more active than the catalysts according to
the prior art.
Analogously to the examples presented here, the invention
can also be applied to other processes in which a positive
effect on the catalytic reaction is observed as a result of
addition of acid. The method of producing the catalyst can
also be applied to other noble metals and should not remain
restricted only to palladium.

WE CLAIM;
1. Process for producing a supported noble metal catalyst, wherein
palladium chloride, which is enveloped by colloids of palladium
hydroxide/oxide and/or chloro-hydroxy-palladium colloids, has
been applied to the support,
comprising the steps:
- hydrolysing an aqueous palladium chloride solution by the
addition of strong bases to the palladium chloride solution while
maintaining a pH value of below 7, thus forming a colloidal
suspension,
- applying the colloidal suspension formed to a support, and
- filtering off the support to yield the supported noble metal
catalyst.

2. Supported noble metal catalyst, obtainable by a process as claimed
in claim 1.
3. Process for carrying out catalytic hydrogenation reactions wherein
the reaction is catalyzed with a supported noble metal catalyst as
claimed in claim 2.


A supported noble metal catalyst comprising palladium salts
enveloped by colloids applied to the support is produced by
hydrolysing a palladium salt solution by means of a base
and applying the colloidal suspension to a support.
The catalyst can be used in hydrogenations.

Documents:

00649-kol-2008-abstract.pdf

00649-kol-2008-claims.pdf

00649-kol-2008-correspondence others.pdf

00649-kol-2008-description complete.pdf

00649-kol-2008-drawings.pdf

00649-kol-2008-form 1.pdf

00649-kol-2008-form 2.pdf

00649-kol-2008-form 3.pdf

00649-kol-2008-form 5.pdf

00649-kol-2008-gpa.pdf

649-KOL-2008-ABSTRACT 1.1.pdf

649-kol-2008-amanded claims 1.2.pdf

649-KOL-2008-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

649-kol-2008-correspondence 1.2.pdf

649-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.1.pdf

649-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

649-KOL-2008-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE) 1.1.pdf

649-kol-2008-description (complete) 1.2.pdf

649-KOL-2008-DRAWINGS 1.1.pdf

649-KOL-2008-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

649-KOL-2008-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

649-KOL-2008-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

649-KOL-2008-FORM 18.1.pdf

649-kol-2008-form 18.pdf

649-KOL-2008-FORM 2-1.1.pdf

649-KOL-2008-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

649-KOL-2008-FORM 3.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GPA.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

649-KOL-2008-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

649-KOL-2008-OTHERS.pdf

649-kol-2008-petition under section 8(1) read with rule 12.pdf

649-KOL-2008-PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf

649-KOL-2008-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

649-KOL-2008-TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf


Patent Number 251948
Indian Patent Application Number 649/KOL/2008
PG Journal Number 16/2012
Publication Date 20-Apr-2012
Grant Date 18-Apr-2012
Date of Filing 31-Mar-2008
Name of Patentee EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
Applicant Address RELLINGHAUSER STRASSE 1-11, 45128 ESSEN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BAOSHU CHEN 3825 PLYMOUTH, 42001 PADUCAH, KY
2 KONRAD MOBUS FURSTENBERGSTRASSE 4, 63457 HANAU
3 TRACY DUNN 60 DORIS LEE LANE, 42071 MURRAY, KY
PCT International Classification Number B01J23/44; B01J23/44
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10 2007 017 182.1 2007-04-12 Germany