Studies on the Silk-platinum Catalyst. II. General Properties

Abstract 1. The silk-platinum catalyst showed quite different behaviors with various compounds from that of other platinum catalysts. The difference is probably due to the characteristic spacing of the active centers on the silk-platinum catalyst, due to the structure of the carrier silk-fibroin protein. 2. The catalyst was found to catalize the hydrogenation of some aldehydes, unconjugated aliphatic ketones and C=C double bonds, aliphatic nitro groups and oxime, more weakly, than that of the aromatic nitro groups. 3. Carbon monoxide, benzyl mercaptan and cupric ion poisoned the catalyst, and the activity of the catalyst inhibited by cupric ion, was not recovered by treatment with ethylene-diamine tetra-acetic acid. 4. Ferric ion scarcely inhibited the catalyst and acetylation of the catalyst scarcely decreased its activity, unlike that of the silk-palladium catalyst.