Development of a Palladium on Boron Nitride Catalyst and its Application to the Semihydrogenation of Alkynes

The simple preparative method for a novel palladium supported on boron nitride catalyst (Pd/BN) was accomplished. Pd/BN is widely applicable for the semihydrogenation of mono- as well as disubstituted alkynes to furnish the corresponding alkenes in the presence of diethylenetriamine (DETA), which exhibits both an unprecedented acceleration effect toward the semihydrogenation and a suppression effect with regard to the overhydrogenation to alkanes.