α-Alkylation of Ketones with Alcohols Using a Polymer-Nano-Pd Catalyst

Significance

A novel solid-phase self-organized catalyst, nano-Pd-V, of palladium nanoparticles was prepared from PdCl₂ with main-chain viologen polymers via complexation and reduction. Thus, when an aqueous solution of PdCl₂ and NaCl was added to an aqueous solution of the main-chain viologen polymer at 25 °C, an insoluble palladium complex was obtained. It was reduced by NaBH₄ to afford the insoluble polymeric palladium nanoparticles (nano-Pd-V). Nano-Pd-V efficiently promoted the α-alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols in the presence of Ba(OH)₂·H₂O. The nano-Pd-V catalyst was reused without loss of its catalytic activity.