Lindlar catalyst
A Lindlar catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst consisting of palladium deposited on calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or barium carbonate (BaCO3) then poisoned with various forms of lead or sulfur. It is used for the hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes (i.e. without further reduction into alkanes), specifically the syn product. It is named after its inventor Herbert Lindlar, who discovered it in 1952.
Synthesis
[edit source]Lindlar catalyst can be created by reducing palladium chloride in a slurry of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or barium carbonate (BaCO3) and adding lead acetate.[1][2][3] A variety of other "catalyst poisons" have been used, including lead oxide and quinoline.[4] The palladium content of the supported catalyst is usually 5% by weight.
Catalytic properties
[edit source]The catalyst is used for the hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes (i.e. without further reduction into alkanes). The lead serves to deactivate the palladium sites, and further deactivation of the catalyst with quinoline or 3,6-dithia-1,8-octanediol enhances its selectivity, preventing formation of alkanes. Thus if a compound contains a double bond as well as a triple bond, only the triple bond is reduced. An example being the reduction of phenylacetylene to styrene.
Alkyne hydrogenation is stereospecific, occurring via syn addition to give the cis-alkene.[5] For example the hydrogenation of acetylenedicarboxylic acid using Lindlar catalyst gives maleic acid rather than fumaric acid.
An example of commercial use is the organic synthesis of vitamin A which involves an alkyne reduction with the Lindlar catalyst. These catalysts are also used in the synthesis of dihydrovitamin K1.[6]
See also
[edit source]- Rosenmund reduction, a reduction using palladium on barium sulfate, poisoned with sulfur compounds.
- Urushibara Nickel, a nickel based catalyst used to hydrogenate alkynes to alkenes.
References
[edit source]- ↑ McEwen, Alan B.; Guttieri, Mary J.; Maier, Wilhelm F.; Laine, Richard M.; Shvo, Youval (2002-05-01). "Metallic palladium, the actual catalyst in Lindlar and Rosenmund reductions?". ACS Publications. doi:10.1021/jo00171a069. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
- ↑ Lindlar, H.; Dubuis, R. (1966). "Palladium Catalyst for Partial Reduction of Acetylenes". Organic Syntheses. 46: 89. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.046.0089.
- ↑ Lindlar, H. (1 February 1952). "Ein neuer Katalysator fur selektive Hydrierungen". Helvetica Chimica Acta. 35 (2): 446–450. doi:10.1002/hlca.19520350205.
- ↑ Davister, Michèle; Laszlo, Pierre (1993). "Explanation of a paradoxical selectivity in Friedel-Crafts alkylation under heterogeneous catalysis". Tetrahedron Letters. 34 (3). Great Britain: Pergamon Press: 535.
- ↑ Overman, L. E.; Brown, M. J.; McCann, S. F. (1993). "(Z)-4-(Trimethylsilyl)-3-Buten-1-ol". Organic Syntheses. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.068.0182; Collected Volumes, vol. 8, p. 609.
- ↑ Fritz Weber, August Rüttimann "Vitamin K" Ullmann's Encyclopedia Of Industrial Chemistry, 2012, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.o27_o08