Chiral crystalline organic salts as supports of Pd nanoparticles forming selective heterogeneous catalysts for hydrogenation of nitroarenes

A novel catalyst based on Pd nanoparticles encapsulated in a chiral crystalline organic salt matrix is prepared from tetrasodium tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)methane and tetrakis[4-(S)-prolinamidophenyl]methane in water at room temperature under hydrogen atmosphere. The hydrogenation of p-nitrobenzaldehyde over this catalyst stalls at the stage of p-aminobenzyl alcohol, whereas Pd/C brings the reduction further to p-toluidine.