Stabilization of Palladium Nanoparticles by Polyoxometalates Appended with Alkylthiol Tethers and their Use as Binary Catalysts for Liquid Phase Aerobic Oxydehydrogenation

A polyoxometalate with two alkyl thiol appendages, Q 4 [SiW 11 O 40 (SiCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 SH) 2 ] (Q=ammonium salt) stabilized the formation of palladium nanoparticles. This tethered polyoxometalate–palladium binary catalyst was effective for the aerobic oxydehydrogenation of vinylcyclohexene and vinylcyclohexane to styrene as the major product via activation of the allylic, tertiary carbon‐hydrogen bond.