Nitroarene hydrogenation catalysts based on Pd nanoparticles glued with PDA on inorganic supports: Multivariate Curve Resolution as an useful tool to compare the catalytic activity in multi-step reactions

[EN] Two green catalysts based on Pd(0) nanoparticles (Pd NPs) anchored through PDA on porous silica and magnetite have been synthesized using a generalized simple and reproducible "two-step" methodology. Both catalysts were tested for a model reaction, the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol using NaBH4 as the hydrogenating agent, and especially good activity has been achieved in the case of the catalysts containing magnetite as inorganic core (Pd NPs-PDA@Fe3O4). We analyzed the effect associated with the catalyst separation method (centrifugation or magnetically) that affect to the distribution and aggregation degree of the Pd NPs. In addition, we also correlate the final catalyst morphology w…