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GATE 2023 CY – Question 21

Inorganic Chemistry · Organometallics: 18-Electron rule; metal-alkyl, metal-carbonyl, metal-olefin and metal-carbene complexes and metallocenes. Fluxionality in organometallic complexes. Types of organometallic reactions. Homogeneous catalysis – Hydrogenation, hydroformylation, methanol to acetic acid process, olefin metathesis and Wacker oxidation. Heterogeneous catalysis – Fischer-Tropsch reaction, Ziegler-Natta polymerization. · 1 mark · Multiple choice

Wacker oxidation of alkenes is catalyzed by a combination of

  1. Pd(II) and Cu(II)
  2. Co(II) and Cu(II)
  3. Pd(II) and Ni(II)
  4. Pd(II) and Co(II)

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Correct answer: (A) Pd(II) and Cu(II)

Explanation

Pd(II) coordinates the alkene and mediates oxidation to carbonyl, being reduced to Pd(0). Cu(II) reoxidizes palladium and is regenerated by oxygen in the catalytic cycle.

Thus **Pd(II)/Cu(II), A**, combines substrate oxidation with catalyst regeneration.