Selective Semihydrogenation of Alkynes on Shape‐Controlled Palladium Nanocrystals

A systematic study on the selective semihydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes on shape‐controlled palladium (Pd) nanocrystals was performed. Pd nanocrystals with a cubic shape and thus exposed {100} facets were synthesized in an aqueous solution through the reduction of Na₂PdCl₄ with L ‐ascorbic acid in the presence of bromide ions. The Pd nanocubes were tested as catalysts for the semihydrogenation of various alkynes such as 5‐decyne, 2‐butyne‐1,4‐diol, and phenylacetylene. For all substrates, the Pd nanocubes exhibited higher alkene selectivity (>90 %) than a commercial Pd/C catalyst (75–90 %), which was attributed to a large adsorption energy of the carbon–carbon triple bond on the {100} facets of the Pd nanocubes. Our approach based on the shape control of Pd nanocrystals offers a simple and effective route to the development of a highly selective catalyst for alkyne semihydrogenation.     

High Catalytic Activity of Palladium(II)‐Exchanged Mesoporous Sodalite and NaA Zeolite for Bulky Aryl Coupling Reactions: Reusability under Aerobic Conditions

Exchange for the better : Mesoporous sodalite and NaA zeolite exchanged with Pd²⁺ exhibit remarkably high activity and reusability in C? C coupling reactions under aerobic atmosphere. It is proposed that the catalytic reactions are mediated by a molecular Pd⁰ species generated in situ within the pores (see picture), which is oxidized back to Pd²⁺ by O₂, preventing the formation of catalytically inactive Pd⁰ agglomerates.

     

Oxygen‐Assisted Synthesis of Mesoporous Palladium Nanoparticles as Highly Active Electrocatalysts

Mesoporous Pd nanoparticles (MPNs) enclosed by high‐index facets have been successfully prepared by taking advantage of successive oxygen adsorption and desorption caused by the oxidative etching effect. The as‐prepared MPNs exhibit excellent performance toward formic acid electro‐oxidation, which is due to the synergetic effect between the diffusion‐feasible tubular mesochannels and the high index facets.     

Selective Transformation of Syngas into Gasoline‐Range Hydrocarbons over Mesoporous H‐ZSM‐5‐Supported Cobalt Nanoparticles

Bifunctional Fischer–Tropsch (FT) catalysts that couple uniform‐sized Co nanoparticles for CO hydrogenation and mesoporous zeolites for hydrocracking/isomerization reactions were found to be promising for the direct production of gasoline‐range (C_5–11) hydrocarbons from syngas. The Brønsted acidity results in hydrocracking/isomerization of the heavier hydrocarbons formed on Co nanoparticles, while the mesoporosity contributes to suppressing the formation of lighter (C_1–4) hydrocarbons. The selectivity for C_5–11 hydrocarbons could reach about 70 % with a ratio of isoparaffins to n‐paraffins of approximately 2.3 over this catalyst, and the former is markedly higher than the maximum value (ca. 45 %) expected from the Anderson–Schulz–Flory distribution. By using n‐hexadecane as a model compound, it was clarified that both the acidity and mesoporosity play key roles in controlling the hydrocracking reactions and thus contribute to the improved product selectivity in FT synthesis.     

Dual‐Mesoporous ZSM‐5 Zeolite with Highly b‐Axis‐Oriented Large Mesopore Channels for the Production of Benzoin Ethyl Ether

Dual‐mesoporous ZSM‐5 zeolite with highly b axis oriented large mesopores was synthesized by using nonionic copolymer F127 and cationic surfactant CTAB as co‐templates. The product contains two types of mesopores—smaller wormlike ones of 3.3 nm in size and highly oriented larger ones of 30–50 nm in diameter along the b axis—and both of them interpenetrate throughout the zeolite crystals and interconnect with zeolite microporosity. The dual‐mesoporous zeolite exhibits excellent catalytic performance in the condensation of benzaldehyde with ethanol and greater than 99 % selectivity for benzoin ethyl ether at room temperature, which can be ascribed to the zeolite lattice structure offering catalytically active sites and the hierarchical and oriented mesoporous structure providing fast access of reactants to these sites in the catalytic reaction. The excellent recyclability and high catalytic stability of the catalyst suggest prospective applications of such unique mesoporous zeolites in the chemical industry.     

Well‐Defined Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Siliceous Mesocellular Foam as Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Oxidation of Water

Herein, we describe the use of Pd nanoparticles immobilized on an amino‐functionalized siliceous mesocellular foam for the catalytic oxidation of H₂O. The Pd nanocatalyst proved to be capable of mediating the four‐electron oxidation of H₂O to O₂, both chemically and photochemically. The Pd nanocatalyst is easy to prepare and shows high chemical stability, low leaching, and recyclability. Together with its promising catalytic activity, these features make the Pd nanocatalyst of potential interest for future sustainable solar‐fuel production.     

Steam‐Induced Coarsening of Single‐Unit‐Cell MFI Zeolite Nanosheets and Its Effect on External Surface Brønsted Acid Catalysis

Commonly used methods to assess crystallinity, micro‐/mesoporosity, Brønsted acid site density and distribution (in micro‐ vs. mesopores), and catalytic activity suggest nearly invariant structure and function for aluminosilicate zeolite MFI two‐dimensional nanosheets before and after superheated steam treatment. Yet, pronounced reaction rate decrease for benzyl alcohol alkylation with mesitylene, a reaction that cannot take place in the zeolite micropores, is observed. Transmission electron microscopy images reveal pronounced changes in nanosheet thickness, aspect ratio and roughness indicating that nanosheet coarsening and the associated changes in the external (mesoporous) surface structure are responsible for the changes in the external surface catalytic activity. Superheated steam treatment of hierarchical zeolites can be used to alter nanosheet morphology and regulate external surface catalytic activity while preserving micro‐ and mesoporosity, and micropore reaction rates.     

Copper/Palladium Synergistic Catalysis for the syn‐ and anti‐Selective Carboboration of Alkenes

A method for the diastereoselective carboboration of 1,2‐disubstituted styrenes with aryl/vinyl bromides and (Bpin)₂ is reported. High diastereoselectivities and yields are observed for the formation of either diastereomer of the product from a single alkene isomer. These reactions provide access to a diverse range of structures from simple starting materials.     

A Hierarchical MFI Zeolite with a Two‐Dimensional Square Mesostructure

A conceptual design and synthesis of ordered mesoporous zeolites is a challenging research subject in material science. Several seminal articles report that one‐dimensional (1D) mesostructured lamellar zeolites are possibly directed by sheet‐assembly of surfactants, which collapse after removal of intercalated surfactants. However, except for one example of two‐dimensional (2D) hexagonal mesoporous zeolite, no other zeolites with ordered 2D or three‐dimensional (3D) mesostructures have been reported. An ordered 2D mesoporous zeolite can be templated by a cylindrical assembly unit with specific interactions in the hydrophobic part. A template molecule with azobenzene in the hydrophobic tail and diquaternary ammonium in the hydrophilic head group directs hierarchical MFI zeolite with a 2D square mesostructure. The material has an elongated octahedral morphology, and quaternary, ordered, straight, square channels framed by MFI thin sheets expanded along the a–c planes and joined with 90° rotations. The structural matching between the cylindrical assembly unit and zeolite framework is crucial for mesostructure construction.