Highly selective semi-hydrogenation of alkynes with a Pd nanocatalyst modified with sulfide-based solid-phase ligands

Soluble small molecular/polymeric ligands are often used in Pd-catalyzed semi-hydrogenation of alkynes as an efficient strategy to improve the selectivity of targeted alkene products. The use of soluble ligands requires their thorough removal from the reaction products, which adds significant extra costs. In the paper, commercially available, inexpensive, metallic sulfide-based solid-phase ligands (SPL8-4 and SPL8-6) are demonstrated as simple yet high-performance insoluble ligands for a heterogeneous Pd nanocatalyst (Pd@CaCO 3 ) toward the semi-hydrogenation of alkynes. Based on the reactions with a range of terminal and internal alkyne substrates, the use of the solid-phase ligands has been shown to markedly enhance the selectivity of the desired alkene products by efficiently suppressing over-hydrogenation and isomerization side reactions, even during the long extension of the reactions following full substrate conversion. A proper increase in the dosage or a reduction in the average size of the solid-phase ligands enhances such effects. With their insoluble nature, the solid-phase ligands have the distinct advantage in their simple, convenient recycling and reuse while without contaminating the products. A ten-cycle reusability test with the SPL8-4/Pd@CaCO 3 catalyst system confirms its well-maintained activity and selectivity over repeated uses. A mechanistic study with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the solid-phase ligands have electronic interactions with Pd in the supported catalyst, contributing to inhibit the binding and further reaction of the alkene products. This is the first demonstration of solid-phase ligands for highly selective semi-hydrogenation of alkynes, which show strong promise for commercial applications.