Highly selective electrocatalytic alkynol semi-hydrogenation for continuous production of alkenols

Jun Bu, Siyu Chang, Jinjin Li, Sanyin Yang, Wenxiu Ma, Zhenpeng Liu, Siying An, Yanan Wang, Zhen Li and Jian Zhang ()
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Jun Bu: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Siyu Chang: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Jinjin Li: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Sanyin Yang: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Wenxiu Ma: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Zhenpeng Liu: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Siying An: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Yanan Wang: Hualu Engineering and Technology Co., Ltd
Zhen Li: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Jian Zhang: Northwestern Polytechnical University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Alkynols semi-hydrogenation is a critical industrial process as the product, alkenols, have extensive applications in chemistry and life sciences. However, this class of reactions is plagued by the use of high-pressure hydrogen, Pd-based catalysts, and low efficiency of the contemporary thermocatalytic process. Here, we report an electrocatalytic approach for selectively hydrogenating alkynols to alkenols under ambient conditions. For representative 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol, Cu nanoarrays derived electrochemically from CuO, achieve a high partial current density of 750 mA cm−2 and specific selectivity of 97% at −0.88 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode in alkaline solution. Even in a large two-electrode flow electrolyser, the Cu nanoarrays deliver a single-pass alkynol conversion of 93% with continuous production of 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol at a rate of ~169 g gCu−1 h−1. Theoretical and in situ electrochemical infrared investigations reveal that the semi-hydrogenation performance is enhanced by exothermic alkynol adsorption and alkenol desorption on the Cu surfaces. Furthermore, this electrocatalytic semi-hydrogenation strategy is shown to be applicable to a variety of alkynol substrates.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37251-z

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