Preparation, Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Palladium Catalyst Supported on MgCO3 for Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Amines

Pd nanoparticle catalyst loading 4.7 wt.% was prepared by the deposition-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystallite size estimated from the integral width of the highest intensity line using the Scherrer equation was 2.3 nm. Images obtained from TEM showed an equal distribution of the particles size between 0-2 and 2-4 nm, and also a good dispersion of the nanoparticles on the catalyst support. The catalytic activity of this nanocatalyst was studied for racemization reactions of (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine. After that, the catalyst was used in the chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of some primary amines. Expressive yields and optical purities were obtained.