Hydrogenation of salicylaldehyde catalyzed by silica-supported polysulfosiloxane–platinum complex

A sulfur-containing acidic inorganic polymer, silica-supported polysulfosiloxane, has been synthesized and used as a ligand for preparing its platinum complex. The platinum complex showed high activity and selectivity for the catalytic hydrogenation of salicylaldehyde to produce salicyl alcohol in about 95.7% yield at 30°C and atmospheric hydrogen pressure. The effect of reaction parameters such as Pt loading, reaction temperature, solvents and additives on the hydrogenation was studied. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.