Aqueous phase semihydrogenation of alkynes over Ni–Fe bimetallic catalysts

Abstract

Bimetallic Ni–Fe catalysts (Ni/Fe, 1 : 1, 1 : 3, and 3 : 1) are synthesized and explored for their catalytic activity in semihydrogenation of internal alkynes using H₂ gas in water–ethanol solution. Our findings revealed that over the Ni₁Fe₃ catalyst a high diastereoselectivity for Z-alkenes with a high conversion for a wide range of internal alkynes can be achieved at moderate reaction temperature (40 °C). Notably, the selectivity for the Z-alkenes is enhanced in the presence of n-butyl amine as an additive. Deuterium labeling experiments evidenced that H₂ gas becomes dissociated homolytically over the catalyst surface to hydrogenate alkynes to alkenes. Synthesized catalysts were successfully characterized by HR-TEM, SEM, XPS, EDS, P-XRD and H₂-TPD.