Highly-Ordered PdIn Intermetallic Nanostructures Obtained from Heterobimetallic Acetate Complex: Formation and Catalytic Properties in Diphenylacetylene Hydrogenation

Formation of PdIn intermetallic nanoparticles supported on α-Al(2)O(3) was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and hydrogen temperature-programmed desorption (H(2)-TPD) methods. The metals were loaded as heterobimetallic Pd(μ-O(2)CMe)(4)In(O(2)CMe) complex to ensure intimate contact between Pd and In. Reduction in H(2) at 200 °C resulted in Pd-rich PdIn alloy as evidenced by XRD and the disappearance of Pd hydride. A minor amount of Pd(1)In(1) intermetallic phase appeared after reduction at 200 °C and its formation was accomplished at 400 °C. Neither monometallic Pd or in nor other intermetallic structures were found after reduction at 400–600 °C. Catalytic performance of Pd(1)In(1)/α-Al(2)O(3) was studied in the selective liquid-phase diphenylacetylene (DPA) hydrogenation. It was found that the reaction rate of undesired alkene hydrogenation is strongly reduced on Pd(1)In(1) nanoparticles enabling effective kinetic control of the hydrogenation, and the catalyst demonstrated excellent selectivity to alkene.