Metal catalysis inside polymer frameworks: evaluation of catalyst stability and reusability.

The polymer framework of a resin-based catalyst built up with Pd nanoclusters (ca. 3 nm) dispersed inside the nanoporous domains of a thermally stable gel-type polyacrylic resin exhibits a good chemical stability under 5 bar H(2) at 40 degrees C for reasonable contact times. Chemical and physico-chemical integrity of the polymer framework are checked with a variety of instrumental analytical methods. Catalyst reusability turns out to be quite good.