Development of Highly Chemoselective Hydrogenation Using Novel Palladium (0) -Fibroin Catalyst

Silk-fibroin supported palladium catalyst (Pd/Fib) was prepared by incipient wetness impregnation with a rust-colored MeOH solution of Pd (OAc)2. After the palladium (II) was absorbed completely in the fibroin, the zero-valent Pd was formed on the fibroin fiber via reduction by MeOH as a reductant. The Pd/Fib catalyst, black-colored yarn, shows efficient chemoselectivity in hydrogenation of acetylene, olefin and azide functionalities in the presence of aromatic ketones, aldehydes and halides, benzyl esters and N-Cbz protective groups which are readily reduced under the Pd/C or Pd/C(en)-catalyzed hydrogenation conditions.