Activity of Rhodium and Palladium Catalysts Immobilized on Functionalized Silica in the Decomposition and Carbonylation of Methanol

Results are given for a study of the physicochemical characteristics (specific surface, phase composition, and surface morphology) of a series of silica supports functionalized by amino groups and of rhodium and palladium complexes [Rh(CO)Cl(η 2 -P,P-PNP*)] and [PdCl 2 (NH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 ) 2 ] immobilized on such supports. The catalytic activity of these complexes was tested in a model methanol decomposition reaction as a stage of a combined carbonylation process to give acetic acid in comparison with the liquid-phase carbonylation of methanol in the presence of immobilized rhodium complexes.