Effective and durable Pt nanocatalyst supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous carbon for asymmetric hydrogenation

Pt nanoparticles supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous carbon (Pt/3DC) were prepared and applied as catalyst after chirally modified with cinchonidine for the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate. The catalyst was characterized by SEM, TEM, powder XRD, N 2 sorption , and CO chemisorption , which confirmed the well-defined periodic macroporous structure of Pt/3DC and the high dispersion of Pt nanoparticles on the support. High catalytic performance was achieved over chirally modified Pt/3DC catalyst in the asymmetric hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate. A high turnover frequency of 11,800   h −1 with an enantiomeric excess of 79.5% was acquired in acetic acid. In particular, this catalyst exhibited high durability in the asymmetric hydrogenation system and could be easily reused at least 13 times with well-maintained catalytic activity and slightly decreased enantioselectivity. Moreover, the comparison of catalytic performance between Pt/3DC and commercial Pt/C as well as Pt/Al 2 O 3 was carried out.