Acetophenone hydrogenation over a Pd catalyst in the presence of H2O and CO2.

The addition of carbon dioxide and water enhances acetophenone hydrogenation activity over an activated carbon-supported palladium catalyst, and 1-phenylethanol can be easily recovered without distillation and neutralization. Two liquid phases (water and acetophenone) are indispensable for enhancement of the hydrogenation rate. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011