Interstitial modification of palladium nanoparticles with boron atoms as a green catalyst for selective hydrogenation

Chun Wong Aaron Chan, Abdul Hanif Mahadi, Molly Meng-Jung Li, Elena Cristina Corbos, Chiu Tang, Glenn Jones, Winson Chun Hsin Kuo, James Cookson, Christopher Michael Brown, Peter Trenton Bishop and Shik Chi Edman Tsang ()
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Chun Wong Aaron Chan: Wolfson Catalysis Centre, University of Oxford
Abdul Hanif Mahadi: Wolfson Catalysis Centre, University of Oxford
Molly Meng-Jung Li: Wolfson Catalysis Centre, University of Oxford
Elena Cristina Corbos: Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount’s Court, Sonning Common
Chiu Tang: Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Glenn Jones: Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount’s Court, Sonning Common
Winson Chun Hsin Kuo: University College London
James Cookson: Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount’s Court, Sonning Common
Christopher Michael Brown: Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount’s Court, Sonning Common
Peter Trenton Bishop: Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount’s Court, Sonning Common
Shik Chi Edman Tsang: Wolfson Catalysis Centre, University of Oxford

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Lindlar catalysts comprising of palladium/calcium carbonate modified with lead acetate and quinoline are widely employed industrially for the partial hydrogenation of alkynes. However, their use is restricted, particularly for food, cosmetic and drug manufacture, due to the extremely toxic nature of lead, and the risk of its leaching from catalyst surface. In addition, the catalysts also exhibit poor selectivities in a number of cases. Here we report that a non-surface modification of palladium gives rise to the formation of an ultra-selective nanocatalyst. Boron atoms are found to take residence in palladium interstitial lattice sites with good chemical and thermal stability. This is favoured due to a strong host–guest electronic interaction when supported palladium nanoparticles are treated with a borane tetrahydrofuran solution. The adsorptive properties of palladium are modified by the subsurface boron atoms and display ultra-selectivity in a number of challenging alkyne hydrogenation reactions, which outclass the performance of Lindlar catalysts.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6787

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