Pd nanoparticles supported on ZIF-8 as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

•Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst was prepared by an impregnation method.•Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst was characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, ICP, XPS and TEM.•The reaction solvents greatly influenced the catalytic performance of Pd/ZIF-8.•Pd/ZIF-8 was efficient and reusable in selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde.

Palladium nanoparticles supported on ZIF-8 (Pd/ZIF-8) were prepared by a facile impregnation method and characterized by XRD, TEM, ICP and N2 adsorption. The prepared Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance for the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. The reaction solvents had great influences on the catalytic performance of the prepared Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst. Pd nanoparticles supported on ZIF-8 gave much higher catalytic activity and hydrocinnamaldehyde selectivity than those supported on other MOFs or the conventional inorganic supports. The prepared Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst could be reused at least four times without significant loss in activity and selectivity.