Carbon nanofiber supported palladium catalyst for liquid-phase reactions. An active and selective catalyst for hydrogenation of CC bonds

Carbon nanofibers with a mean diameter of about 50 nm were successfully used as support for a palladium catalyst in the liquid phase selective hydrogenation of the CC bond in an α,β-unsaturated molecule: a less critical problem of mass-transfer limitation led to the obtention of a highly active and chemo-selective catalyst compared to a commercial high surface area activated charcoal supported palladium catalyst.