Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
Ligand scaffold optimization of a supramolecular hydrogenation catalyst: Analyzing the influence of key structural
Nathan C Thacker1, Shin A Moteki, James M Takacs
1Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0304, USA.
Abstract:
Results are reported for the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of two prototypical substrates with a series of more than 150 closely related supramolecular catalysts differing in only their ligand/catalyst scaffold. These modular catalysts are constructed from four subunits and vary widely in their reactivity (no reaction to quantitative yield) and enantioselectivity (racemic to 96% ee). Analysis of the ligand/catalyst scaffold optimization data reveals how each subunit contributes to the effectiveness of the modular supramolecular catalyst. The results suggest that a balance between key elements of rigidity and flexibility is required for the successful catalysts and, moreover, that this balance is required to enable effective fine-tuning via catalyst scaffold optimization.
More Related Videos
08:25Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Published on: January 17, 2020
10:17Efficient Construction of Drug-like Bispirocyclic Scaffolds Via Organocatalytic Cycloadditions of α-Imino γ-Lactones and Alkylidene Pyrazolones
Published on: February 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions to Alkenes: Markovnikov's Rule
The hydrohalogenation of an unsymmetrical alkene can yield two haloalkane products, depending on which vinylic carbon takes up the halogen. However, one product usually predominates, where hydrogen adds to the vinylic carbon bearing the...
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation