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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Selectivity in platinum-catalyzed cis-trans carbon-carbon double-bond isomerization
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
Abstract:
The isomerization of trans-2-butene to its cis conformer was found to be easier on Pt111 surfaces than the opposite cis to trans conversion. This kinetic trend, which is opposite to what would be expected on thermodynamic grounds, is explained by an increased stability of the cis isomer upon adsorption. A model where adsorption energies are affected by steric interactions between the side moieties of the olefin and the surface suggests that selectivity toward cis versus trans formation may be manipulated by controlling the structure of the surface of the catalyst.
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