Electronic property-dependent activity and durability in Pd/C-catalysed hydrogenation of benzoic acid.

We report that the catalytic activity for benzoic acid hydrogenation to cyclohexanecarboxylic acid was positively correlated with the initial surface fraction of Pd 2+ in the utilized Pd nanoparticles. Additionally, the mechanism for deactivation of Pd/C as a benzoic acid hydrogenation catalyst was proposed to involve a decrease in the Pd 2+ fraction in a strongly reducing atmosphere.