Teaming up main group metals with metallic iron to boost hydrogenation catalysis

Färber C, Stegner P, Zenneck U, Knüpfer C, Bendt G, Schulz S, Harder S (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Book Volume: 13

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30840-4

Abstract

Hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds is a key step in both the fine and petrochemical industries. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are historically based on noble group 9 and 10 metals. Increasing awareness of sustainability drives the replacement of costly, and often harmful, precious metals by abundant 3d-metals or even main group metals. Although not as efficient as noble transition metals, metallic barium was recently found to be a versatile hydrogenation catalyst. Here we show that addition of finely divided Fe-0, which itself is a poor hydrogenation catalyst, boosts activities of Ba-0 by several orders of magnitude, enabling rapid hydrogenation of alkynes, imines, challenging multi-substituted alkenes and non-activated arenes. Metallic Fe-0 also boosts the activity of soluble early main group metal hydride catalysts, or precursors thereto. This synergy originates from cooperativity between a homogeneous, highly reactive, polar main group metal hydride complex and a heterogeneous Fe-0 surface that is responsible for substrate activation.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Färber, C., Stegner, P., Zenneck, U., Knüpfer, C., Bendt, G., Schulz, S., & Harder, S. (2022). Teaming up main group metals with metallic iron to boost hydrogenation catalysis. Nature Communications, 13(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30840-4

MLA:

Färber, Christian, et al. "Teaming up main group metals with metallic iron to boost hydrogenation catalysis." Nature Communications 13.1 (2022).

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