Liquid Phase Hydrogenation of Phenol to Cyclohexenone Over A Pd–La–B Amorphous Catalyst

A La-doped Pd–B amorphous catalyst (Pd–La–B) was prepared by chemical reduction of mixed PdCl2 and LaCl3 with KBH4. The La-dopant played a key role in stabilizing the amorphous structure since only the crystalline Pd–B was obtained without the La-dopant. During liquid phase phenol hydrogenation, the as-prepared Pd–La–B exhibited higher activity and better selectivity to cyclohexanone than the undoped Pd–B.