High-Performance Nanocatalysts for Single-Step Hydrogenations

Bimetallic nanoparticles (Ru6Pd6, Ru6Sn, Ru10Pt2, Ru5Pt, Ru12Cu4, and Ru12Ag4) anchored within silica nanopores exhibit high activities and frequently high selectivities, depending upon the composition of the nanocatalyst, in a number of single-step (and often solvent-free) hydrogenations at low temperatures (333−373 K). The selective hydrogenations of polyenes (such as 1,5,9-cyclododecatriene and 2,5-norbornadiene) are especially efficient. Good performance is found with these nanoparticle catalysts in the hydrogenation of dimethyl terephthalate to 1,4 cyclohexanedimethanol and of benzoic acid to cyclohexanecarboxylic acid or to cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, and also in the conversion of benzene to cyclohexene (or cyclohexane), the latter being an increasingly important reaction in the context of the production of Nylon. Isolated atoms of noble metals (Pd, Rh, and Pt) in low oxidation states, appropriately complexed and tethered to the inner walls of nanoporous (ca. 3 nm diameter) silica, are very promising enantioselective hydrogenation catalysts. Nanoporous carbons, as well as other nanoporous oxides, may also be used to anchor and tether the kind of catalysts described here.