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Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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...

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 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.

Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride

Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride

Radical substitution reactions can be used to remove functional groups from molecules. The hydrogenolysis of alkyl halides is one such reaction, where the weak Sn–H bond in tributyltin hydride reacts with alkyl halides to form alkanes. Here, the reagent Bu3SnH yields tributyltin halide as a byproduct.
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...

Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Mechanism

Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Mechanism

The reaction of hydrogen bromide with alkenes in the presence of hydroperoxides or peroxides proceeds via anti-Markovnikov addition. The radical chain reaction comprises initiation, propagation, and termination steps.
The mechanism starts with chain initiation, which involves two steps. In the first chain initiation step, a weak peroxide bond is homolytically cleaved upon mild heating to form two alkoxy radicals. In the second initiation step, a hydrogen atom is abstracted by the alkoxy...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction

Published on: August 23, 2018

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Dehydrogenation Through an Intermolecular Hydrogen Atom Transfer Mechanism.

Lin Huang^1,2, Alessandro Bismuto², Simon A Rath²

¹Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wihelm-Platz 1, 45470, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)

|January 6, 2021

Summary

Researchers developed a novel ruthenium-catalyzed method for direct alkane dehydrogenation to alkenes. This efficient strategy utilizes a unique combination of a redox-active ligand and a sterically hindered aryl radical for fine chemical synthesis.

Keywords:

alkenes aryl radicals dehydrogenation hydrogenation atom transfer redox-active ligands

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Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex

Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex

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Last Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction

Published on: August 23, 2018

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes

Published on: April 10, 2015

Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex

Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex

Published on: July 27, 2022

Area of Science:

Catalysis
Organic Chemistry
Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

Direct alkane dehydrogenation is an efficient route to valuable alkene products.
Existing catalysts have limited applicability in fine chemical synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel strategy for catalytic, intermolecular dehydrogenation of alkanes.
To enable efficient alkane functionalization for fine chemical applications.

Main Methods:

Utilized a ruthenium catalyst system.
Employed a combination of a redox-active ligand and a sterically hindered aryl radical intermediate.
Conducted mechanistic investigations.

Main Results:

Achieved a conceptually novel strategy for alkane dehydrogenation.
Demonstrated the potential for fine chemical synthesis applications.
Established a mechanistic framework for catalyst development.

Conclusions:

The developed ruthenium-catalyzed system offers a new approach to alkane dehydrogenation.
The combination of specific ligand and radical intermediates is key to the strategy's success.
Further development based on mechanistic insights can advance catalytic dehydrogenation systems.