Highly Efficient Dehydrogenation of Primary Aliphatic Alcohols Catalyzed by Cu Nanoparticles Dispersed on Rod-Shaped La2O2CO3

Copper nanoparticles dispersed rod-shaped La2O2CO3 efficiently catalyzed transfer dehydrogenation of primary aliphatic alcohols with an aldehyde yield of up to 97%. This high efficiency was achieved by creating a catalytically active nanoenvironement for effective reaction coupling between alcohol dehydrogenation and styrene hydrogenation via hydrogen transfer. The {110} planes on the La2O2CO3 nanorods not only provided substantial amounts of medium-strength basic sites for the activation of alcohol but also directed the selective dispersion of hemispherical Cu particles of about 4.5 mm on their surfaces, which abstracted and transferred hydrogen atoms for styrene hydrogenation. This finding provides a new strategy for developing highly active alcohol-dehydrogenation catalysts by tuning the shape of the oxide support and consequently the metal-oxide interfacial nanostructure.