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Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

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...

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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.
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Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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.

Catalysis

Catalysis

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.

Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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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Wolff–Kishner reduction involves converting aldehydes and ketones to alkanes using hydrazine and a base. The reaction converts a carbonyl group to a methylene group. The method was independently discovered by N. Kishner in 1911 and L. Wolff in 1912. The reduction is carried out in high-boiling solvents such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol because heat is required to deprotonate the N–H proton in one of the reaction steps. ...

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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

Stable and Efficient Single-Atom Zn Catalyst for CO₂ Reduction to CH₄.

Lili Han^1,2, Shoujie Song¹, Mingjie Liu³

¹Center for Electron Microscopy and Tianjin Key Lab of Advanced Functional Porous Materials, Institute for New Energy Materials & Low-Carbon Technologies, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|June 16, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel electrocatalyst using single zinc atoms on nitrogen-doped carbon for efficient electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4). The catalyst demonstrates high activity, selectivity, and stability, outperforming traditional copper-based materials.

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Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

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Area of Science:

Electrochemistry
Materials Science
Catalysis

Background:

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4) offers a sustainable energy solution.
Developing highly active and durable catalysts is crucial for efficient CO2 conversion.
Existing catalysts, particularly copper-based ones, face limitations in selectivity and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and investigate a novel electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction to CH4 in aqueous media.
To achieve high Faradaic efficiency, partial current density, and long-term stability.
To understand the catalytic mechanism at the atomic level.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of single Zn atoms supported on microporous N-doped carbon.
Electrochemical characterization in 1 M KHCO3 solution.
Theoretical calculations (e.g., DFT) to elucidate reaction pathways.

Main Results:

The Zn single-atom catalyst achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 85% for CH4 production.
A partial current density of -31.8 mA cm-2 was recorded at -1.8 V vs SCE.
The catalyst demonstrated excellent stability over 35 hours of operation without significant performance decay.
Theoretical calculations indicated that single Zn atoms suppress CO formation and promote CH4 generation.

Conclusions:

Single Zn atoms on N-doped carbon represent a highly effective catalyst for CO2 electroreduction to CH4.
This catalyst surpasses the performance of conventional Cu-based catalysts for this transformation.
The findings pave the way for advanced catalysts in CO2 utilization and sustainable energy technologies.