Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (12): 2105-2121.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63773-1

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Highly selective catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkynols: A review

Xiao Chen, Chuang Shi, Changhai Liang*()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Catalytic Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2020-12-02 Accepted:2020-12-02 Online:2021-12-18 Published:2021-05-06
  • Contact: Changhai Liang
  • About author:* Tel/Fax: +86-411-84986353; E-mail: changhai@dlut.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research & Development Program of China(2016YFB0600305);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21573031);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21403026);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21073023);Science and Technology Innovation Fund in Dalian City(2019J12GX028);Science and Technology Innovation Fund in Dalian City(2018RQ09);Project Partenariats Hubert Curien (PHC) Cai Yuanpei grant

Abstract:

The semi-hydrogenation of alkynols to enols is a crucial process in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fragrances, and flavors that involves a complex set of parallel and consecutive isomerization and hydrogenation reactions and proceeds via several key intermediates. In view of the industrial importance of large-scale enol production through alkynol hydrogenation, various noble and non-noble metal (e.g., Ni and Pd)-based catalysts promoting this transformation have been developed. This paper reviews the design of highly selective catalysts for the semi-hydrogenation of alkynols, focusing on the role of additives, second metals, catalyst supports, and reaction conditions and combining catalytic reaction kinetics with theoretical calculations to establish the reaction mechanism and the decisive factors for boosting selectivity. Finally, a strategy for designing highly efficient and selective catalysts based on the characteristics of aqueous-phase alkynol hydrogenation is proposed.

Key words: Alkynol, Enol, Selective hydrogenation, Metal-based catalyst, Catalyst design