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Related Concept Videos

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

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Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
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...
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Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:13

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Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called 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...
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Heterogeneous Catalysis01:22

Heterogeneous Catalysis

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Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
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Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:24

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Introduction
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.
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Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

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The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
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Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation01:28

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Unlike the easy catalytic hydrogenation of an alkene double bond, hydrogenation of a benzene double bond under similar reaction conditions does not take place easily. For example, in the reduction of stilbene, the benzene ring remains unaffected while the alkene bond gets reduced. Hydrogenation of an alkene double bond is exothermic and a favorable process. In contrast, to hydrogenate the first unsaturated bond of benzene, an energy input is needed; that is, the process is endothermic. This is...
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Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
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An efficient and pH-universal ruthenium-based catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Javeed Mahmood1, Feng Li1, Sun-Min Jung1

  • 1School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Centre for Dimension-Controllable Organic Frameworks, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST, Ulsan 44919, South Korea.

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A new ruthenium-based catalyst (Ru@C2N) shows high efficiency and stability for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in both acidic and alkaline conditions. This cost-effective catalyst rivals platinum

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Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical for electrochemical water splitting, requiring efficient, durable, and affordable catalysts.
  • Platinum-based catalysts are highly effective in acidic media but are expensive and unstable in non-acidic conditions.
  • Existing non-precious metal catalysts often suffer from poor stability and higher overpotentials compared to platinum.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a cost-effective and stable catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) applicable in both acidic and alkaline media.
  • To investigate ruthenium as a potential alternative to platinum for HER catalysis.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of ruthenium nanoparticles dispersed within a nitrogenated holey two-dimensional carbon structure (Ru@C2N).
  • Electrochemical evaluation of the Ru@C2N catalyst for HER activity and stability in various electrolyte solutions (0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH).
  • Comparison of catalytic performance with commercial platinum-based catalysts (Pt/C).

Main Results:

  • The Ru@C2N electrocatalyst demonstrated high turnover frequencies (0.67 H2 s−1 in acid, 0.75 H2 s−1 in alkaline media at 25 mV).
  • Achieved low overpotentials at 10 mA cm−2 (13.5 mV in acid, 17.0 mV in alkaline media).
  • Exhibited superior stability in both acidic and alkaline environments, comparable to or exceeding Pt/C performance.

Conclusions:

  • Ruthenium-based catalysts, specifically Ru@C2N, offer a promising, cost-effective alternative to platinum for HER catalysis.
  • The developed catalyst demonstrates excellent performance and durability across a wide range of pH conditions.
  • Ru@C2N represents a significant advancement in the search for efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting applications.