A research team from 秀色直播 (WHU), led by Professor Lu Qingquan from the Institute for Advanced Studies and Professor Qi Xiaotian from the College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, has made significant progress in electrocatalytic hydrogenation.
Their latest study, Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Olefins, published in Angewandte Chemie, introduces a greener and safer approach to hydrogenation – an essential process in synthetic chemistry. Traditional methods rely on high-pressure hydrogen gas or stoichiometric hydrides, raising safety and environmental concerns. In contrast, this new electrocatalytic strategy replaces hydrogen gas with protons and electrons, offering a more sustainable solution.
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of olefins.
The team utilized commercially available platinum dichloride, which formed highly active platinum nanoparticles upon in situ cathodic reduction. Under high current density (133 mA/cm?), they achieved selective hydrogenation of mono- to tetra-substituted olefins. The introduction of 2,2'-bipyridine as a ligand enabled precise control over catalytic activity, allowing for highly regioselective hydrogenation of dienes (r.r. > 19:1).
This study provides an efficient and scalable strategy for electrocatalytic hydrogenation, advancing the development of greener organic synthesis.
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