CY2084 Lindlar Catalyst

Description of Lindlar Catalyst

Lindlar catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst that consists of palladium deposited on calcium carbonate and treated with various forms of lead. A Heterogenous catalyst is a catalyst that is always in a different phase or state (solid, liquid or gas solution) with that of the reactants.

The name “Lindlar” has been given after its inventor Herbert Lindlar. The addition of lead is done in order to deactivate the palladium at certain sites. This is often denoted as “poisoned catalyst” due to the presence of lead. A catalyst becomes poisonous when its effectiveness starts diminishing in the presence of another chemical substance which is called as catalyst poison.

Application of Lindlar Catalyst

Lindlar catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst that is used mainly for the selective hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes.

It can also effective catalyze:
• selective hydrogenations of triple bonds to cis-double bonds
• monohydrogenation of polyolefins
• hydrogenation of azides to amines