Thermo-responsive Ruthenium Dendrimer-based Catalysts for Hydrogenation of the Aromatic Compounds and Phenols

In this work thermo-responsive ruthenium catalysts, based on the poly(propylene imine) dendrimers cross-linked with the poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether, have been prepared for the first time. The materials obtained were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and tested in the phenol and benzene hydrogenation. Conditions for the metal impregnation into the polymeric matrix were demonstrated to have a great influence both on physical chemical properties of the synthesized catalysts (metal loading, mean particles size, surface structure etc.), and, as a consequence, on their hydrogenation activity and thermo-responsive properties.