Heterogeneously Catalyzed Selective Decarbonylation of Aldehydes by CeO2-Supported Highly Dispersed Non-Electron-Rich Ni(0) Nanospecies

Aldehyde decarbonylation has been extensively investigated, primarily using noble-metal catalysts; however, nonprecious-base-metal-catalyzed aldehyde decarbonylation has been hardly reported. We have established an efficient selective aldehyde decarbonylation reaction with a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance utilizing a heterogeneous Ni(0) nanospecies catalyst supported on CeO2. The high catalytic performance is attributable to the highly dispersed and non-electron-rich Ni(0) nanospecies, which possibly suppress a side reaction producing esters and adsorbed CO-derived inhibition of the catalytic turnover, according to detailed catalyst characterization and kinetic evaluation.