Preparation of Large-Size, Superparamagnetic, and Highly Magnetic Fe3O4@PDA Core⁻Shell Submicrosphere-Supported Nano-Palladium Catalyst and Its Application to Aldehyde Preparation through Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Benzyl Alcohols.

Large-size, superparamagnetic, and highly magnetic Fe3O4@PDA core-shell submicrosphere-supported nano-palladium catalysts were prepared in this study. Dopamine was encapsulated on the surface of Fe3O4 particles via self-polymerization and then protonated to positively charge the microspheres. PdCl42- was dispersed on the surface of the microspheres by positive and negative charge attraction and then reduced to nano-palladium. With air as oxidant, the catalyst can successfully catalyze the dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohols to produce the corresponding aldehydes at 120 °C.