Preparation and characterisation of a highly active bimetallic (Pd–Ru) nanoparticle heterogeneous catalyst†

Abstract

The mixed-metal carbonylate cluster [Pd6Ru6(CO)24]2– was used as a single-source precursor in the synthesis of a highly active hydrogenation catalyst (stoichiometry PdRu) which has been characterised by electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy: PdRu readily hydrogenates alkenes and naphthalene (the latter predominantly to cis- decalin) under mild conditions