"Selective Hydrogenation of Citral over Pt-Sn Supported on Activated Carbon

Hydrogenation of citral has been studied over Pt and Pt-Sn catalysts supported on activated carbon. Under the conditions used the unsaturated alcohols, geraniol and nerol, were the main reaction products. Addition of a small amount of tin (20% at.) to Pt/C increases the overall catalytic activity whereas a decrease is observed at higher tin contents. Addition of tin leads also to an increase in the selectivity to unsaturated alcohols which reaches a value of about 90%. The higher selectivity and activity are attributed to an activation of the C = O bond by tin ions.