Chapter 10
Progress in the Selective
Semi-hydrogenation of Alkynes
by Nanocatalysis
Jorge A. Delgado and Cyril Godard
Abstract The present chapter examines the literature related to the semihydrogenation of alkynes catalysed by systems obtained from colloidal synthetic
methodologies. The strategies described for the enhancement of the alkene selectivity
are classified according to its mode of operation. This scheme permits to fragment
the complexity involved in this transformation into individual phenomena such as
the effect of the particle-size, stabilizer, second metal, additives, support, and among
other things. Special consideration is given to insights gained by combination of
inputs from experiments and density functional theory (DFT). This chapter aims at
providing the reader with an overview of the potential and outlook of the utilization of
colloidal methodologies for the preparation of well-defined heterogeneous catalysts
for both fundamental understanding and industrial applications.
Keywords Alkyne hydrogenation · Modified palladium · Semi-hydrogenation ·
Subsurface hydride · Single Atom Catalysts
10.1 Introduction
Without any doubt, modern tools in heterogeneous catalysis have permitted the
development of not only profitable but also environmentally sustainable chemical
processes [1, 2]. In this framework, hydrogenation reactions are possibly one of the
most common catalytic transformations at industrial level; particularly, the semihydrogenation of alkynes has been a focus of attention in the last decade due to its
relevance in the manufacturing of fine chemical and polymers [3–5]. In this context,
the development of chemo- and stereo-selective catalysts has been identified as essential in order to enhance the process productivity, thus preventing side reactions such as
J. A. Delgado
Centre Tecnològic de la Química, Marcel lí Domingo s/n, Campus Sescelades,
43007 Tarragona, Spain
C. Godard (B)
Departament de Química Física i Inorgánica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili,
Marcel lí Domingo s/n, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
e-mail: cyril.godard@urv.cat
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen and C. Claver (eds.), Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Catalysis,
Molecular Catalysis 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45823-2_10
303
Progress in the Selective
Semi-hydrogenation of Alkynes
by Nanocatalysis
Jorge A. Delgado and Cyril Godard
Abstract The present chapter examines the literature related to the semihydrogenation of alkynes catalysed by systems obtained from colloidal synthetic
methodologies. The strategies described for the enhancement of the alkene selectivity
are classified according to its mode of operation. This scheme permits to fragment
the complexity involved in this transformation into individual phenomena such as
the effect of the particle-size, stabilizer, second metal, additives, support, and among
other things. Special consideration is given to insights gained by combination of
inputs from experiments and density functional theory (DFT). This chapter aims at
providing the reader with an overview of the potential and outlook of the utilization of
colloidal methodologies for the preparation of well-defined heterogeneous catalysts
for both fundamental understanding and industrial applications.
Keywords Alkyne hydrogenation · Modified palladium · Semi-hydrogenation ·
Subsurface hydride · Single Atom Catalysts
10.1 Introduction
Without any doubt, modern tools in heterogeneous catalysis have permitted the
development of not only profitable but also environmentally sustainable chemical
processes [1, 2]. In this framework, hydrogenation reactions are possibly one of the
most common catalytic transformations at industrial level; particularly, the semihydrogenation of alkynes has been a focus of attention in the last decade due to its
relevance in the manufacturing of fine chemical and polymers [3–5]. In this context,
the development of chemo- and stereo-selective catalysts has been identified as essential in order to enhance the process productivity, thus preventing side reactions such as
J. A. Delgado
Centre Tecnològic de la Química, Marcel lí Domingo s/n, Campus Sescelades,
43007 Tarragona, Spain
C. Godard (B)
Departament de Química Física i Inorgánica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili,
Marcel lí Domingo s/n, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
e-mail: cyril.godard@urv.cat
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen and C. Claver (eds.), Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Catalysis,
Molecular Catalysis 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45823-2_10
303