MOF Encapsulated AuPt Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Improved Plasmonic-induced Photothermal Catalysis of CO2 Hydrogenation

Exploring new catalytic strategies for achieving efficient CO₂ hydrogenation under mild conditions is of great significance for environmental remediation. Herein, a composite photocatalyst Zr-based MOF encapsulated plasmonic AuPt alloy nanoparticles (AuPt@UiO-66-NH₂) was successfully constructed for the efficient photothermal catalysis of CO₂ hydrogenation. Under light irradiation at 150 °C, AuPt@UiO-66-NH₂ achieved a CO production rate of 1451 μmol g_metal⁻¹ h⁻¹ with 91 % selectivity, which far exceeded those obtained by Au@Pt@UiO-66-NH₂ with Pt shell on Au (599 μmol g_metal⁻¹ h⁻¹) and Au@UiO-66-NH₂ (218 μmol g_metal⁻¹ h⁻¹). The outstanding performances of AuPt@UiO-66-NH₂ were attributed to the synergetic effect originating from the plasmonic metal Au, doped active metal Pt, and encapsulation structure of UiO-66-NH₂ shell. This work provides a new way for photothermal catalysis of CO₂ and a reference for the design of high-performance plasmonic catalysts.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Carboxylic Acids from Alkynes and Formic Acid by Nickel-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions: Facile Synthesis of Profens

We report a stereoselective conversion of terminal alkynes to α-chiral carboxylic acids using a nickel-catalyzed domino hydrocarboxylation-transfer hydrogenation reaction. A simple nickel/BenzP* catalyst displayed high activity in both steps of regioselective hydrocarboxylation of alkynes and subsequent asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. The reaction was successfully applied in enantioselective preparation of three nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory profens (>90 % ees) and the chiral fragment of AZD2716.     

Partially Hydrogenated Graphene Materials Exhibit High Electrocatalytic Activities Related to Unintentional Doping with Metallic Impurities

Partially hydrogenated graphene materials, synthesized by the chemical reduction/hydrogenation of two different graphene oxides using zinc powder in acidic environment or aluminum powder in alkaline environment, exhibit high electrocatalytic activities, as well as electrochemical sensing properties. The starting graphene oxides and the resultant hydrogenated graphenes were characterized in detail. Their electrocatalytic activity was examined in the oxygen reduction reaction, whereas sensing properties towards explosives were tested by using picric acid as a redox probe. Findings indicate that the high electrocatalytic performance originates not only from the hydrogenation of graphene, but also from unintentional contamination of graphene with manganese and other metals during synthesis. A careful evaluation of the obtained data and a detailed chemical analysis are necessary to identify the origin of this anomalous electrocatalytic activity.     

Non-Pincer-Type Manganese Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Esters

Catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acid esters is essential for the green production of pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and fine chemicals. Herein, we report the efficient hydrogenation of esters with manganese catalysts based on simple bidentate aminophosphine ligands. Monoligated Mn PN complexes are particularly active for the conversion of esters into the corresponding alcohols at Mn concentrations as low as 0.2 mol % in the presence of sub-stoichiometric amounts of KO^tBu base.     

Metal–Support Cooperative Catalysts for Environmentally Benign Molecular Transformations

Metal–support cooperative catalysts have been developed for sustainable and environmentally benign molecular transformations. The active metal centers and supports in these catalysts could cooperatively activate substrates, resulting in high catalytic performance for liquid‐phase reactions under mild conditions. These catalysts involved hydrotalcite‐supported gold and silver nanoparticles with high catalytic activity for organic reactions such as aerobic oxidation, oxidative carbonylation, and chemoselective reduction of epoxides to alkenes and nitrostyrenes to aminostyrenes using alcohols and CO/H₂O as reducing reagents. This high catalytic performance was due to cooperative catalysis between the metal nanoparticles and basic sites of the hydrotalcite support. To increase the metal–support cooperative effect, core–shell nanostructured catalysts consisting of gold or silver nanoparticles in the core and ceria supports in the shell were designed. These core–shell nanocomposite catalysts were effective for the chemoselective hydrogenation of nitrostyrenes to aminostyrenes, unsaturated aldehydes to allyl alcohols, and alkynes to alkenes using H₂ as a clean reductant. In addition, these solid catalysts could be recovered easily from the reaction mixture by simple filtration, and were reusable with high catalytic activity.     

氮掺杂石墨烯负载单原子Zr催化CO2加氢的密度泛函理论研究

基于密度泛函理论计算,研究了H2和CO2在氮掺杂石墨烯负载单原子Zr催化剂(Zr Nx-Gr)上的吸附和CO2催化加氢反应. H2和CO2在Zr N3-Gr上单独吸附的吸附能分别为-0.49和-2.17 e V,在H2和CO2共吸附状态下,吸附能为-2.24 e V,均高于在Zr N4-Gr表面的吸附能,表明Zr N3-Gr表面更利于CO2加氢反应的发生.在Zr N3-Gr表面, CO2在共吸附后保持了其单独吸附时的特性,削弱了H2分子的吸附. CO2在Zr Nx-Gr表面催化加氢反应起始于H2和CO2的共吸附构型,沿反式HCOOH路径形成甲酸盐(HCOO*)中间体,然后HCOO*基团吸附H原子形成反式甲酸,在Zr N3-Gr和Zr N4-Gr表面该路径的反应能垒分别为1.85和2.48 e V.另一路径为产生CO与H2O的反应,在Zr N3-Gr和Zr N4-Gr表面的反应能垒分别为1.86和1.73 e V,表明Zr N3-Gr更利于CO2加氢生成甲酸反应的发生,而Zr N4-Gr表面更利于CO的产生.     

原子层沉积构筑Pd/TiO2限域催化剂及其在1,4-丁炔二醇加氢的应用

利用ALD制备了TiO₂限域的Pd催化剂, 研究了限域空间内Pd纳米颗粒与TiO₂的界面作用对1,4-丁炔二醇(BYD)加氢性能的影响. 相比于管外负载型催化剂, 限域催化剂在催化1,4-丁炔二醇选择性加氢反应中体现出非常高的催化活性和1,4-丁烯二醇的选择性. HR-TEM、 EDX-Mapping、 XRD、 XPS和H₂-TPR表征说明, 限域体系中Pd-TiO₂的界面相互作用强于传统TiO₂表面负载型Pd催化剂, 这种强界面作用不仅能够提高BYD的加氢活性, 也可抑制半加氢产物1,4-丁烯二醇的异构化和深度加氢, 提高1,4-丁烯二醇的选择性, 而且限域结构也可阻止管内壁Pd纳米颗粒的脱落, 提高催化剂的稳定性.     

Metal Nodes of Metal-Organic Frameworks can Activate Molecular Hydrogen

Hydrogenation of multiple bonds are among the most general and important organic reactions. Typical heterogeneous catalysts are based on transition metal nanoparticles, including noble metals. Data are presented here showing that metal nodes of MIL-101(Cr) and UiO-66 in the absence of occluded metal nanoparticles can promote hydrogenation of polarized X=Y double bonds of nitro and carbonyl groups. The catalytic activity is a function of the composition of the metal node and the organic linker. It is proposed that the reaction mechanism is based on the operation of frustrated Lewis acid/base pairs.     

Tetrahydroxydiboron (Bis-boric Acid): a Versatile Reagent for Borylation,Hydrogenation, Catalysis,Radical Reactions and H2 Generation

Diboron compounds with a B−B bond, discovered with B₂Cl₄ a century ago, have been developed only since the turn of this century for catalyzed borylation reactions, mostly with the well-know reagent bis(binacolato)diboron, (B₂pin₂). On the other hand, chemistry of tetrahydroxydiboron (THDB), also named bis-boric acid, is relatively underdeveloped. In this review, the properties of THDB as a borylation, reductant (including transfer hydrogenation), catalyst, source of radicals and generator of H₂ from water upon hydrolysis are summarized.