Enable biomass-derived alcohols mediated alkylation and transfer hydrogenation

Xixi Liu, Liang Huang, Yuandie Ma, Guoqiang She, Peng Zhou, Liangfang Zhu and Zehui Zhang ()
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Xixi Liu: South-Central Minzu University
Liang Huang: Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Yuandie Ma: South-Central Minzu University
Guoqiang She: South-Central Minzu University
Peng Zhou: South-Central Minzu University
Liangfang Zhu: Sichuan University
Zehui Zhang: South-Central Minzu University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract A single-atom catalyst with generally regarded inert Zn–N4 motifs derived from ZIF-8 is unexpectedly efficient for the activation of alcohols, enabling alcohol-mediated alkylation and transfer hydrogenation. C-alkylation of nitriles, ketones, alcohols, N-heterocycles, amides, keto acids, and esters, and N-alkylation of amines and amides all go smoothly with the developed method. Taking the α-alkylation of nitriles with alcohols as an example, the α-alkylation starts from the (1) nitrogen-doped carbon support catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols into aldehydes, which further condensed with nitriles to give vinyl nitriles, followed by (2) transfer hydrogenation of C=C bonds in vinyl nitriles on Zn–N4 sites. The experimental results and DFT calculations reveal that the Lewis acidic Zn-N4 sites promote step (2) by activating the alcohols. This is the first example of highly efficient single-atom catalysts for various organic transformations with biomass-derived alcohols as the alkylating reagents and hydrogen donors.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51307-8

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