Palladium nanoparticles stabilized by polyethylene glycol: Efficient, recyclable catalyst for hydrogenation of styrene and nitrobenzene

► Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles in polyethylene glycol (PEG) as efficient catalyst. ► Catalyst for selective hydrogenation of styrene and reduction of nitrobenzene. ► No Pd leaching was detected during or after ten cycles for both reactions. ► The current Pd/PEG catalytic system exhibited excellent stability and recyclability.