Lindlar catalyst

Lindlar catalyst is a finely divided metal, typically palladium coated with lead, used in chemical reactions to selectively stop hydrogenation. In hydrogenation, double bonds in molecules (such as in alkenes) are usually reduced to single bonds (alkanes). Lindlar catalyst slows this process, enabling the conversion of alkynes into cis-alkenes without further reduction. This control is valuable in organic synthesis for creating specific compounds with desired properties. Overall, it helps chemists selectively modify molecules by halting the hydrogen addition at a particular stage, ensuring precise chemical transformations.