Terminal and Non Terminal Alkynes Partial Hydrogenation Catalyzed by Some d 8 Transition Metal Complexes in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Systems

© 2012 Liprandi et al., licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Terminal and Non Terminal Alkynes Partial Hydrogenation Catalyzed by Some d Transition Metal Complexes in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Systems


Introduction
The synthesis and manufacture of food additives, flavours and fragrances, as well as pharmaceutical, agrochemical and petrochemical substances, examples of fine and industrial chemicals, are closely related to selective alkyne hydrogenation [1,2].
Regarding alkyne partial hydrogenation, the main goal is to avoid hydrogenation to single bond and in the case of non-terminal alkynes is to give priority to the highest possible conversion and selectivity to the (Z)-alkene [3][4][5].
These kind of reactions are carried out by means of a catalytic process where control over conversion and selectivity can be exerted in different ways, e.g.: by varying a) the active species or b) the support, and/or by adding c) a promoter / a poison / a modifier, and finally, and not less important, by modifying the reaction temperature.Examples of factor b) are: mesoporous [6] and siliceous [7] materials, a pumice [8], carbons [9], and hydrotalcite [3].Cases of factor c) are the typical Lindlar catalyst (palladium heterogenized on calcium carbonate poisoned by lead acetate or lead oxide, Pd-CaCO3-Pb) [10] and the presence of quinoline and triphenylphosphine [11,12].Research on factors a) and c) include bi-elemental systems such as Ni-B, Pd-Cu, etc. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19].An example of the effect of the reaction temperature is a paper by Choi and Yoon, who found that the selectivity to (Z)-alkene increases when the temperature decreases using a Ni catalyst [20].
Besides, transition metal complexes are a group of substances widely used as catalysts that could be considered as a new active species or as a metal conditioned by its ligands, a kind of "poison" or a modifier for the metal atom [21].
The d 8 metals, e.g.Rh(I), Ir(I), Pd(II), Ni(II) and Pt(II), form complexes for which the square planar geometry is specially favoured.They are important in catalysis as the central atom can increase its coordination number by accepting ligands in the apical sites [34] or by interacting with the support.These complexes have also the ability to dissociate molecular dihydrogen, and stabilize a variety of reaction intermediates through coordination as ligands in relatively stable but reactive complexes.This is made possible by promoting rearrangements within their coordination spheres [35].
On the other hand, regarding the physical condition, the desired product can be obtained in homogeneous or heterogeneous systems.The latter, in the context of transition metal complexes used as catalysts, have some practical-economical benefits as follows: a) the easy and cheap way in which the catalyst is removed from the remaining solution after ending the hydrogenation reaction; b) the main product does not need further purification due to a possible contamination with a heavy metal compound when no complex leaching is detected; and lastly, c) there is no need for a costly temperature control.
The purpose of this chapter is to illustrate, based on results already published, the previous ideas using: a) 1-heptyne and 3-hexyne as the substrates to be partially hydrogenated, examples of terminal and non-terminal alkynes respectively, b) [PdCl2(NH2(CH2)12CH3)2] and [RhCl(NH2(CH2)12CH3)3] as the catalytic species with coordination spheres having tridecylamine as an electron-donating σ ligand and chloride as an electron-withdrawing σ/π ligand and Pd(II) and Rh(I) as the central atoms respectively and c) -Al2O3 Ketjen CK 300 and RX3, a commercial carbonaceous material from NORIT, as supports for the heterogeneous catalytic tests.
Last but not least, the complex catalytic performances are compared, at the same operational conditions, against those obtained with the Lindlar catalyst which is accepted as a standard one.

Complexes preparation and purification
[PdCl2(TDA)2] and [RhCl(TDA)3] (TDA = NH2(CH2)12CH3) were prepared in a glass equipment with agitation and reflux in a purified argon atmosphere using tridecylamine (TDA) and PdCl2 or RhCl3 according to the case.[PdCl2(TDA)2] (yellow-orange) was obtained at 338 K after 4.0 h with a molar ratio TDA/PdCl2 = 2, while [RhCl(TDA)3] (yellow) was got at 348 K after 4.5 h with a molar ratio TDA/RhCl3 = 6 using toluene and carbon tetrachloride as solvents respectively.The purification was made by column chromatography with silica gel as the stationary phase using chloroform for [PdCl2(TDA)2] and chloroform/methanol (5/1 vol/vol) for [RhCl(TDA)3] as the corresponding eluting solvents.All the aliquots were tested to determine the presence of free TDA by thin layer chromatography.After drying the TDAfree solution in a rotary evaporator each complex, in solid state, was obtained.

Blank test
In each preceding complex preparation, a blank experiment, using only the corresponding salt and solvent, was run verifying that there was no product obtained from them at all.

Complexes immobilization
Anchoring of the complexes was carried out on -alumina (Ketjen CK 300), previously calcinated in air at 773 K for 3 h, or on RX3 (NORIT), a pelletized commercial carbon, by means of the incipient wetness technique.The solvents used for impregnation were as follows: a) chloroform for [PdCl2(TDA)2] and b) chloroform-methanol 5/1 (vol/vol) for [RhCl(TDA)3] using a suitable concentration to obtain 0.3 wt % M (M = Pd or Rh).Then, solvents were let evaporate in a desiccator at 298 K, until constant mass was verified.
In order to check for a possible leaching of the immobilized complexes, each freshsupported system was subjected to a 100-hour run in the corresponding reaction solvent at 353 K.After the tests, none Pd or Rh metal was detected in the remaining solution by Atomic Absorption spectroscopy, thus revealing a strong complex adherence to each support.In this respect, the constancy of M/Al or M/C atomic ratios obtained by XPS before and after the mentioned tests (see Table 2), ratifies that there was no leaching at all and that the complexes species remained anchored on both supports.

Elemental composition
The presence and weight percent of metal (Pd or Rh), chlorine and nitrogen elements were evaluated for each pure complex on a C-and H-free base, according to standard methods [36][37][38][39] to determine the stoichiometric ratios of the main atoms and to give a minimum formula for each complex.

X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
XPS spectra were carried out to evaluate: a) the electronic state of atoms, b) the atomic ratios, for the pure complexes and for the supported complexes before and after the reaction and (c) the atomic ratios M/Al or M/C (where M = Pd or Rh) for the supported complexes before and after reactions.This was done to get each pure complex minimum formula and some insight in the way the complexes were immobilized on the supports; verifying at the same time that the coordination compounds were maintained after anchoring (fresh catalysts) and after the catalytic evaluations (run catalysts) with the final purpose of demonstrating that the complexes are the real catalytic active species.
A Shimadzu ESCA 750 Electron Spectrometer coupled to a Shimadzu ESCAPAC 760 Data System was used.The C 1s line was taken as an internal standard at 285.0 eV so as to correct possible deviations caused by electric charge on the samples.The superficial electronic states of the atoms were studied according to the position of the following peak maxima: Rh 3d5/2 and Pd 3d5/2, N 1s for the TDA molecule and Cl 2p3/2 for the complexes in any condition.In order to ensure that there was no modification on the electronic state of the species, the sample introduction was made according to the operational procedure reported elsewhere [40].Exposing the samples to the atmosphere for different periods of time confirmed that there were no electronic modifications.Determination of the atomic ratios x/Metal (x = N, Cl) and Metal/Z (Z = Al or C, depending on the support) were made by comparing the areas under the peaks after background subtraction and corrections due to differences in escape depths [41] and in photoionization cross sections [42].

Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR and IR)
Pure complexes and TDA IR spectra were taken, in the 4100-900 cm -1 range, to determine the presence of tridecylamine as a ligand in the complexes coordination spheres.The analysis was carried out using the TDA characteristic normal wavenumbers [43][44][45].Besides, pure [PdCl2(TDA)2] IR spectra was also taken and analyzed, below 600 cm -1 , with the purpose to elucidate if the obtained complex was the cis or trans isomer, and consequently to be able to assign a correct local site symmetry for this species.
The high wavenumber spectra were taken in a Shimadzu FTIR 8101/8101M single beam spectrometer; the equipment has a Michelson type optical interferometer.Two chambers are available to improve the quality of the spectra.The first one has a pyroelectric detector made of a high sensitivity LiTaO element, and the other has an MCT detector and the possibility to create a controlled N2 (or dry air) atmosphere.On the other hand due to the low detector sensitivity below 500 cm -1 , a Perkin-Elmer 580 B double beam spectrometer was also used.
All the samples were dried at 353 K and were examined either in potassium bromide or cesium iodide disks in a concentration ranging from 0.5 to 1 wt% to ensure non-saturated spectra [41].

Supports characterization
The porosity of the supports was characterized by physical adsorption of N2 (77 K) and CO2 (273 K).Gas adsorption is useful to calculate specific surface area and pore volume.The use of both adsorptives (N2 and CO2) allows estimating the pore volume distribution of pores up to about 7.5 nm diameter [46].By applying the Dubinin-Raduskevich equation to the CO2 adsorption isotherm at 273 K, the volume of micropores with a diameter less than 0.7 nm (Vmicro) can be obtained.On the other hand, the volume of supermicropores (Vsupermicro), diameter ranging from 0.7 to 2 nm, is obtained by subtraction of Vmicro from the volume calculated by applying the Dubinin-Raduskevich method to the N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K [46].The volume of mesopores with diameter between 2 and 7.5 nm was calculated from the N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K.In this respect, the volume of gas adsorbed between 0.2 and 0.7 relative pressure corresponds to the mesopore range of porosity.The wider porosity, macropores (Vmacro) and part of the mesopores (with diameter from 7.5 to 50 nm), was determined by mercury porosimetry, using a Carlo Erba 2000 porosimeter.This equipment reaches a maximum pressure of 196 MPa, which allows estimating the volume of pores with a diameter longer than 7.5 nm.The addition of the mesopore volumes determined from N2 adsorption isotherm and by mercury porosimetry gives the total mesopore volume (Vmeso) [46].Finally, with the BET equation applied to the N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K it is possible to evaluate the specific surface area.
This information can be used to know the support profitable sites where the complexes can be located and the concentration of the substrates would turn out augmented by a physicochemical adsorption process favouring the partial hydrogenation.

Catalytic runs
The catalytic runs were made using 100 mL of a 2 % v/v alkyne in toluene solution, in a PTFE-coated batch stainless steel stirred tank reactor, operated at 600 rpm during 120 min.The weight of the supported complex catalysts was 0.075 g in all cases.In the catalytic evaluation of the unsupported complexes, a suitable mass of these ones was used to provide the same amount of metal (Pd or Rh) as in the corresponding supported catalysts.The same criterion was used for the Lindlar catalyst.Every catalytic test was carried out in triplicate at P = 150 kPa with a relative experimental error of about 3 %.Detection of possible diffusional limitations during the catalytic runs was taken into account according to the procedures described in the literature [47][48].External diffusional limitations were examined by varying the stirring velocity in the range of 180-1400 rpm.Conversion and selectivity constancy verified above 500 rpm allows to say that this type of limitation was absent at the selected rotatory speed.On the other hand, intraparticle mass transfer limitations were considered by crushing the heterogenised complex catalyst up to ¼ the original size and using the obtained samples to carry out the partial hydrogenation reactions.Conversion and selectivity values, equal to those obtained with the uncrushed heterogenised catalyst, permitted to state that this type of limitation was also absent in the physical operational conditions of our work.Last but not least, the catalyst cylinders were properly treated and weighted after the end of reactions.The difference in the mass of catalyst cylinders (before and after the test reactions) was not appreciable within the experimental error of the analytical balance method, meaning that there was no mass loss from the cylinders.Thus, it can be considered that the attrition effect was absent or was negligible enough to play a role in determining an additional mass transfer limitation.The analysis of reactants and products was made by gas chromatography, using a FID and a CP WAX 52 CB capillary column.
The following substrates and conditions were used to perform the catalytic tests:

Atomic absorption spectroscopy
The possible presence of M (Rh or Pd), provoked by a solvent leaching effect in each solution after catalytic evaluation of the heterogeneous systems, was analyzed by means of the Atomic Absorption technique.1. M (Pd or Rh), N and Cl (on a C-and H-free base) elemental composition and Cl/M and N/M molar ratios for the pure complexes. [49]  The Pd:Cl:N and Rh:Cl:N molar ratios for the pure complexes calculated from the weight percent values (Table 1) and the molar masses of these elements, can be expressed as ca.1:2:2 and 1:1:3 respectively.

Pd or Rh complex minimum formula
Additionally, Table 2 presents the M 3d5/2, N 1s and Cl 2p3/2 peaks binding energies (BE), and the atomic ratios N/M, Cl/M for the pure and for the fresh and run supported complexes, obtained by XPS.
Besides Figure 1 shows that [PdCl2(TDA)2] and [RhCl(TDA)3] FTIR peaks globally agree with those corresponding to pure TDA.Anyhow, differences are found in the labelled wavenumbers indicated above: A, B and C as they show a slight shift to lower frequencies with respect to the pure ligand, meaning an interaction between the nitrogen lone pair and the Pd or Rh atom.This argument is reinforced by the fact that when a primary amine is bonded, the NH2 stretching peak is considerably different in shape and intensity from the original NH2 band [45], as seen in the shown spectra.This information confirms that the TDA molecule is one of the ligands in the complexes coordination spheres.
The IR spectrum presented in Figure 2 shows the peaks corresponding to the Pd-ligand vibrations for the pure complex.[PdCl2(TDA)2] can be considered as the trans-isomer because of the presence of single peaks, which obey the principle of mutual exclusion, typical of centre-symmetric species [54].]. [49]   Figure 2. IR spectrum below 600 cm -1 for pure [PdCl2(TDA)2]. [54]  At this point, the complex minimum formula, on the basis of the preceding Elemental Composition, XPS and FTIR arguments, can be expressed by [PdCl2(TDA)2] or [RhCl(TDA)3].

Palladium and rhodium local site symmetries, HOMO-LUMO electron configurations and complexes dimensions
Molecular orbitals with symmetries corresponding to the irreducible representations of the molecular point group automatically satisfy the Fock equation.For complex species the terminal atom symmetry orbital (TASO)/molecular orbitals (MO) and the metal atomic Transmittance (a.u.) orbitals are taken into account to explain metal-ligand bonding according to their symmetry properties.In this respect, the (n-1)d and ns metal atomic orbitals are those that match best the energy of the TASO/MOs.Based on this, complex antibonding MOs have considerably more metal character while complex bonding MOs have more ligand character; with the former lying higher in energy.On the other hand, tetra-coordinated palladium(II) and rhodium(I) (d 8 species) complexes have a square-planar geometry [55].On this background and knowing that [PdCl2(TDA)2] is the trans isomer two facts can be considered:
The Rh(I) complex HOMO-LUMO frontier orbitals lie higher in energy than those corresponding to the Pd(II) complex because of the lower oxidation number of the central atom.The HOMO is useful to produce the cleavage of the H-H bonding, generating hydrogen atoms and the LUMO is available to receive electron density from the substrate molecule, weakening the C-C triple bond; both concepts are key factors during the catalytic cycle leading to the hydrogenation of the substrate.

ii. Complexes Dimensions
The approximate molecular size of the metal complexes can be estimated in order to study structural aspects related to their location in the supports porosity.This can be done taking into account the square planar geometry, typical covalent radii, a 109.5°C-C-C angle and basic trigonometry.

Supported Pd and Rh complexes structures
Table 3 presents the BET surface area and the pore volume distribution for both supports.3. BET surface area and supports pore volume distributions. [53]  According to this information it can be remarked that RX3 possesses a SBET that is 7.84 times greater than the -Al2O3 surface area.Besides, -Al2O3 can be considered basically a mesoporous support, while RX3 has a pore volume distribution in the range of micro, supermicro and macro pores.
On the other hand, XPS results of binding energies and atomic ratios for the anchored complexes, Table 1, show that: a) Cl/M and N/M atomic ratios are equal to those obtained for the pure complexes and in total accordance with the elemental composition results for the pure complexes; and b) there is a constancy of the M 3d5/2, N 1s and Cl 2p3/2 XPS BEs with respect to the corresponding values for the pure complexes, meaning that their electronic states remain unchanged.Item a) indicates that the supported complexes may be considered as tetra-coordinated, maintaining its chemical identity after anchoring, and item b) suggests that the metal (Pd or Rh) is not in contact with the support surface.In this way, as the inductive influence of the hydrocarbon chain on the nitrogen atom is exerted up to the second/third carbon atom, the immobilization of the complexes takes place via a physicochemical interaction between the last part of the TDA molecule and the alumina or carbon basal planes, i.e. an anchoring showing a kind of "table" arrangement as seen in Figure 3. Based on the ideas of the previous paragraph it can be stated that the anchored complexes maintain the local site symmetries around the central atoms, that is D2h for [PdCl2(TDA)2] and C2v for [RhCl(TDA)3], with the same HOMO-LUMO electron configurations.
Besides, as the longest dimension of the coordination compounds is the same for both complexes, and according to the Al2O3 or RX3 distribution pore sizes (Table 3), it can be concluded that the species can be located only in the meso and macropores (2-7.5 and 7.5-50 nm respectively) for both supports, thus occupying ca.88 % and 43 % of the support total pore volume, respectively.
The selectivity plots displayed in Figure 5 show a plateau-shaped behaviour in a very important range of 1-heptyne total conversion followed then by a decreasing tendency.   [41-heptyne/Pd = 7.3 10 3 and 1heptyne/Rh = 7.0 10 3 .
On the other hand, high selectivities to 1-heptene (Se), which are obtained up to 50 min of reaction time, and their corresponding conversions to 1-heptene (Xe) and 1-heptyne total conversions (XT), are presented in Table 4  A general trend, based on the better catalytic performances (Table 4), can be established for the involved systems:  From these tendencies, it can be stated that the best combination is the Rh(I) complex heterogeneous system, which is in the first place in the general trend and the worst option is the Lindlar catalyst.

3-hexyne Partial Hydrogenation (Non-Terminal Alkyne)
(Z)-3-hexene, (E)-3-hexene and n-hexane were the only products detected by GC during the reaction tests using the catalytic systems: (1) commercial Lindlar catalyst (2) [RhCl(TDA)3] (homogeneous condition) , and (3) [RhCl(TDA)3]/RX3 (heterogeneous condition) at 275, 290 and 303 K, 150 kPa and 2 % v/v 3-hexyne/toluene solution.In Figure 6(a) the conversions to (Z)-3-hexene and (E)-3-hexene are shown as a function of the 3-hexyne total conversion for the Lindlar catalyst and for Rh(I) homogeneous and heterogeneous complex for the three temperatures, while Figure 6(b), for the sake of clarity, is presented at the optimum temperature 303 K.It can be noted the predominant formation of the (Z)-alkene stereoisomer, the desired product.In this respect, it can be seen in Figure 6, that all of the catalytic systems show again an initial part with an almost linear slope, which takes a value of 45° for the [RhCl(TDA)3]/RX3 catalyst.After that initial part, all of the systems have a similar shape with an increasing 3-hexyne total conversion, showing a maximum value of conversion to (Z)-3-hexene.There was also a relatively low amount of the side products: (E)-3-hexene formed either as initial product or via Z  E isomerization, and n-hexane (not plotted in Figure 6 because of the low values obtained and for the sake of clarity) produced either by hydrogenation of the alkyne or the alkene isomers [7,57].Last but not least, [RhCl(TDA)3]/RX3 showed the lowest conversion values to the (E) isomer and to the alkane.
In Figure 7, a detail from Figure 6, it can be observed that, for a given catalytic system, the variation of conversion to (Z)-3-hexene vs. 3-hexyne total conversion follows an increasing tendency as the temperature is raised.However, it can be noted that the performance of Rh(I) complex heterogeneous system is slightly sensitive to temperature changes while the homogeneous system and the Lindlar catalyst are considerably sensitive to temperature changes.
In Figure 8 the selectivity to (Z)-3-hexene vs. the 3-hexyne total conversion values are presented.The selectivity plots show an initial plateau-shaped behaviour followed by a marked decreasing tendency for the increasing 3-hexyne total conversion.The [RhCl(TDA)3]/RX3 system allows to obtain a practically constant value of a very high selectivity (not lower than 98.5%) up to a very high 3-hexyne total conversion (ca.85%); after that, the selectivity decays to a value ca.82 %.Meanwhile, in the case of [RhCl(TDA)3] and the Lindlar catalyst, high values of selectivities (ca.89.4 and ca.94.2 respectively) were obtained for lower 3-hexyne total conversions up to ca. 44%; then both systems show a monotonously decreasing profile shape, which is more pronounced in the case of the Lindlar catalyst.(E)-3-hexene, solid symbols (Z)-3-hexene. [54]3-hexyne/Rh = 8.   6 in the zone where the three systems present the most remarkable differences). [54]3-hexyne/Rh = 8.1 10 3 .
Selectivity to (Z)-3-hexene (%) 3-hexyne T otal C on version (% )  To reinforce the conclusions given in the previous paragraphs, some relevant conversion and selectivity values for diverse reaction conditions are summarized in Table 5.
Considering Figures 6, 7 and 8 and Table 5 the different catalytic systems can be ordered in a descendent X(Z) production as follows: [RhCl(TDA)3]/RX3 > [RhCl(TDA)3] >> Lindlar catalyst.Finally, for each system the higher the temperature the higher the selectivity and the higher the conversion to the (Z)-isomer, although the [RhCl(TDA)3]/RX3 system behaves as the less sensitive catalyst to that variable.It can be remarked that for the 3-hexyne (non-terminal alkyne) partial hydrogenation, [RhCl(TDA)3] is a much better option than the Lindlar catalyst to obtain the desired product.

Chemical considerations
Based on the information obtained from the previous sections, it can be concluded that [RhCl(TDA)3], supported either on -Al2O3 or on RX3 in a "table" arrangement structure (Section 3.3), is the best option to carry out the 1-heptyne or 3-hexyne partial hydrogenation to obtain high conversion values.As it was said in Section 3.2, this complex has a d 8 central element with a combination of ligands L'/L = 3 (L' = TDA, L = Cl), with a square planar geometry associated to a C2v local site symmetry.This type of coordination compound, at some point of the reaction mechanism, has to release one of the coordination sphere ligands; in this respect, the trans-effect series indicates that the labile ligand is TDA opposite to the Cl ligand.Some features related to the central atom, the TDA ligand, the complex coordination number, the site symmetry and the supported condition, could explain this optimum performance.
According to the Atomic Orbital Model (AOM) mentioned in Section 3.2, the (dz2)* and (dx2-y2)* are the HOMO/LUMO frontiers orbitals, respectively.The former, along the z axis with a high electron density, is ready to overlap with the hydrogen σ antibonding orbital, thus favouring H-H bond breaking and the latter, an empty orbital extended on the xy plane, is available to receive electron density from the substrate molecule triple bond, thus weakening its π bonds.These two factors, that are important in the hydrogenation catalytic cycle, will be particularly favoured in this case as the complex antibonding orbitals have considerably more metal than ligand character with a relatively high energy because of the low oxidation state of the central element.
On the other hand, the complex bonding molecular orbitals have a predominant character from the TASO/MOs of the ligands in the coordination sphere constituted by tridecylamine (an electron donating σ species) and chloride (an electron-withdrawing σ/π species) in a 3/1 ratio what means a net electronic enrichment on the Rh atom, a fact that will also contribute to the H-H bond rupture.Besides, the TDA ligand presents another remarkable feature related to the Dispersion forces which are relevant when the TDA/solvent interaction is analyzed.This is important as soon as the TDA molecule is released, due to the trans-effect, and it is simultaneously stabilized by the solvent via a solvatation process, a fact that is greatly favoured because of the long hydrocarbon chain of the TDA ligand.
Besides, the presence of a support, either -Al2O3 or RX3, can favour the catalytic process by activating some extra substrate molecules (1-heptyne or 3-hexyne) because of their interactions with the support surface via Acid/Base Lewis or Dipersion forces for -Al2O3 or RX3 respectively.In any case, this situation turns out to be an important factor as it makes the alkyne (1-heptyne or 3-hexyne) concentration around the supported complex higher than in the bulk solution.
Finally, the high selectivity values could be explained considering the interaction between the substrate triple or double bond (alkyne or alkene) with the complex species LUMO frontier orbital, and, additonally, for the heterogeneous system, with the support chemical sites.For both factors the stronger the interaction, the more favourable the hydrogenation process, but in each case a triple bond will give place to the strongest interaction.Thus, the selectivity to 1-heptene or (Z)-3-hexene will be kept in a very high value inasmuch as the alkyne concentration is high enough to consider the alkene hydrogenation negligible, after that the situation is reversed.

Practical considerations
On the other hand, regarding that [RhCl(NH2(CH2)12CH3)3] anchored on -Al2O3 or RX3 is the optimum catalyst, some practical-economical benefits can be mentioned: a) the easy and cheap way in which the catalyst is removed from the remaining solution after ending the hydrogenation reaction; b) the main product does not need further purification due to a possible contamination with a heavy metal compound as no complex leaching was detected; and lastly, c) there is no need for a costly temperature control due to the mild operational conditions.

Conclusions
Experimental results demonstrate that [PdCl2(NH2(CH2)12CH3)2] and [RhCl(NH2(CH2)12CH3)3], d 8 transition metal complexes, can be used as catalysts to partially hydrogenate 1-heptyne and 3-hexyne (terminal and non-terminal alkynes respectively) in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems (-Al2O3 and RX3 as supports) at mild operational conditions (P = 150 kPa and T up to 303K) with very good catalytic performances even better than the Lindlar catalyst.Analyses based on Elemental Composition, XPS, IR, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy show that the active catalytic species is the complex itself in each case, with a minimum formula as written above.
Tetracoordinated electron-rich transition elements, as well as the presence and the relative quantity of a good electron donating ligand such as NH2(CH2)12CH3 with a long-chain hydrocarbon substituent and the heterogeneous condition, contribute to obtain a catalytic system with a high activity and selectivity performance.According to this and supported by experimental results, the optimum catalyst turns out to be [RhCl(NH2(CH2)12CH3)3] supported either on -Al2O3 or RX3.This behaviour can be understood in terms of Coordination Sphere parameters, Complex Dimensions, Local Site Symmetry, HOMO/LUMO frontier orbitals and some Support features

 1 -
heptyne (a terminal alkyne) partial hydrogenation was used to evaluate the catalytic performance of both complexes in homogeneous condition and anchored on -Al2O3 at 303 K with a 1-heptyne/Pd or Rh molar ratio equal to 7.3 10 3 and 7.0 10 3 , respectively.
indicate that these elements appear in the proportion Pd:Cl:N equal to 1:2:2 and Rh:Cl:N equal to 1:1:3.These numbers are equal to those obtained via Elemental Composition results.

Table 4 .
Selectivity and conversion to 1-heptene and 1-heptyne total conversion values for the catalytic systems up to 50 min of reaction.1-heptyne/Rh = 7.0 10 3 and 1-heptyne/Pd = 7.3 10 3 .With this information, trends and selection of the best catalytic systems are drawn taking into account two factors: a) high selectivity values to 1-heptene and b) the range of 1heptyne total conversion in which the high selectivity values are maintained.

From
this trend, it can be stated that [PdCl2(TDA)2] and [RhCl(TDA)3] in heterogeneous or homogeneous conditions are better options than the Lindlar catalyst for the 1-heptyne partial hydrogenation under mild operational conditions.
TDA)2]-Alum Besides, depending on the central element or the physical condition two new trends can be written: Central Element: Rh systems are better than Pd systems Physical Condition: Heterogeneous systems are better than Homogeneous systems

Table 1
shows M (Pd or Rh), N and Cl elemental composition on a C-and H-free base, as well as Cl/M and N/M molar ratios obtained for the pure complexes.

Table 2 .
XPS binding energies and XPS atomic ratios for pure, fresh and run heterogenized Pd or Rh complexes.