Metal–organic frameworks as selectivity regulators for hydrogenation reactions

Unsaturated alcohols, widely used in the flavouring, perfume and pharmaceutical industries, are produced by selectively hydrogenating CO groups over CC groups present in suitable starting aldehyde molecules. Developing efficient catalysts for this transformation is challenging. Here Zhiyong Tang and colleagues describe a new type of highly selective catalyst in which platinum nanoparticles are sandwiched between a core and a shell of a metalorganic framework. This arrangement results in stable catalysts that selectively hydrogenate CO groups to produce a range of value-added unsaturated alcohols. The design strategy underpinning the work should be applicable to other selective catalysts for important yet challenging chemical reactions.