Electronic interactions between a stable electride and a nano-alloy control the chemoselective reduction reaction

Controlling the electronic structure of heterogeneous metal catalysts is considered an efficient method to optimize catalytic activity. Here, we introduce a new electronic effect induced by the synergy of a stable electride and bimetallic nanoparticles for a chemoselective reduction reaction. The electride [Ca₂₄Al₂₈O₆₄]⁴⁺·(e^-)₄, with extremely low work function, promotes the superior activity and selectivity of a Ru-Fe nano-alloy for the conversion of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols in a solvent-free system. The catalyst is easily separable from the product solution and reusable without notable deactivation. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that electron injection from the electride to the Ru-Fe bimetallic nanoparticles promotes H₂ dissociation on the highly charged active metal and preferential adsorption of C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bonds over C[double bond, length as m-dash]Cs bond of the unsaturated aldehydes, to obtain the thermodynamically unfavorable but industrially important product.