Hydrogenation of Benzene over Silica-Supported Catalysts

Significance

Hydrogenation reaction of benzene over a silica-supported catalyst that combines a grafted rhodium complex and palladium nanoparticles [Rh(I)-Pd(0)/SiO₂] is described. The silica-supported Rh(cod)(sulfos) and Pd metal nanoparticles [Rh(I)-Pd(0)/SiO₂] catalyzed the hydrogenation of benzene to give cyclohexane (40-42% yield). In situ and ex situ EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and DRIFT (diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform) measurements, batch catalytic reactions under different conditions, deuterium labeling experiments, and model organometallic studies, were examined to provide valuable information on the mechanism by which rhodium single sites and palladium nanoparticles cooperate with each other in promoting the hydrogenation of benzene.