Studies on the Silk-Palladium Catalyst. I Preparation and Stability

Abstract

1. The highest hydrogenation activity was obtained when the silk-palladium catalyst was prepared by boiling the silk fibroin fibers with 0.1% palladous chloride solution in 0.1 n acetic acid for 8 min. and then hydrogenating the resulting chelate.2. The catalyst prepared as above was, however, devoid of the capacity of asymmetric catalysis, although the same catalyst prepared in distilled water (instead of dilute acetic acid) was able to achieve asymmetric reduction.3. The catalyst and its precursor chelate could be stored in dry state without any loss of activity.4. The synthetic fiber, 6-Nylon, could be successfully used as the carrier in place of silk fibroin.