Supported ionic liquidscatalysts for fine chemicals: citral hydrogenation

The quest for new concepts in catalysis involving fine chemicals production is discussed. A new approach for easy preparation of structural, heterogeneous catalysts where the selectivity profile is altered by means of different ionic liquids and the same transition metal species (Pd) is introduced. Furthermore, an novel ionic liquid, [A336][PF6], derived from a common phase-transfer catalyst, Aliquat336®, was synthesized and utilized in catalytic hydrogenation of citral.