Abstract: A catalyst suitable for use in the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen is prepared by bringing hydrogen and oxygen into contact with a liquid mixture comprising a fluorocarbon and/or halofluorocarbon and water containing bis(tri(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine) palladium dichloride. When the reaction mixture is allowed to stand the catalyst appears as a black film at the interface of the organic and aqueous phases. The black film is almost totally insoluble in aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen peroxide wherein a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen and oxygen is contacted with a catalyst in the presence of water and an organic solvent wherein:(i) the organic solvent is immiscible with water and unreactive with hydrogen peroxide under the contacting conditions;(ii) the distribution coefficient for hydrogen peroxide between the water and the organic solvent is greater than 1;(iii) the catalyst is of the formula L.sub.2 MX.sub.2 wherein L is a ligand represented by the formula A R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 wherein R.sub.1 R.sub.2 and R.sub.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide is synthesized by reacting hydrogen and oxygen in a two phase mixture of water and an organic. The mixture contains a catalyst which is insoluble in water but dissolves in the organic. The hydrogen peroxide is extracted in the water.The catalyst is L.sub.2 MX.sub.2 where:L is a ligand containing a Group 5b element (preferably phosphorous);M is a Group 8 metal (preferably palladium); andX is a halogen (preferably chlorine).