| abstract |
A method for selective dehydrogenation of a compound, comprising contacting a compound of the formula <IMAGE> wherein each R1, R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C1-C20) alkyl, (C3-C20) cycloalkyl, (C6-C20) aryl, (C7-C20) alkylaryl, (C7-C20) aralkyl groups, as well as substituted (C1-C20) alkyl, (C3-C20) cycloalkyl, (C6-C20) aryl, (C7-C20) aralkyl and (C7-C20) arylalkyl moieties, optionally further substituted with -OR, wherein R is R1, R2, R3 or R4; and wherein R1 and R2 or R3 and R4 may be joined as part of a ring structure, at a dehydrogenation temperature in the presence of a catalyst comprising about 0.01 wt %-19.9 wt % Pd and about 0.01 wt %-19.9 wt % Cu on a carbon support, wherein the total amount of (Pd+Cu) on the support is about 0.02 wt % to 20 wt %, the weight ratio of Pd:Cu is about 1:1 to 10:1, and the carbon support has a surface area of at least about 100 m2/g and is essentially free of reactive sulfur. A selective dehydrogenation catalyst having the composition described supra is disclosed as is a method of preparing the same. This catalyst is highly selective for dehydrogenating a variety of substrates while minimizing the formation of unwanted hydrogenolysis by-products. |