Selective Transfer Semihydrogenation of Alkynes with H₂ O (D₂ O) as the H (D) Source over a Pd-P Cathode

We reported a selective semihydrogenation (deuteration) of numerous terminal and internal alkynes using H₂ O (D₂ O) as the H (D) source over a Pd-P alloy cathode at a lower potential. P-doping caused the enhanced specific adsorption of alkynes and the promoted intrinsic activity for producing adsorbed atomic hydrogen (H*_ads ) from water electrolysis. The semihydrogenation of alkynes could be accomplished at a lower potential with up to 99 % selectivity and 78 % Faraday efficiency of alkene products, outperforming pure Pd and commercial Pd/C. This electrochemical semihydrogenation of alkynes might proceed via a H*_ads addition pathway rather than a proton-coupled electron transfer process. The decreased amount of H*_ads at a lower potential and the more preferential adsorption of the Pd-P to C≡C π bond than C=C moiety resulted in the excellent alkene selectivity. This method was capable of producing mono-, di-, and tri-deuterated alkenes with up to 99 % deuterium incorporation.