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Updated: Aug 28, 2025
Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
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Intercepting Hydrogen Evolution with Hydrogen-Atom Transfer: Electron-Initiated Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes
Xiangyu Wu1, Cara N Gannett1, Jinjian Liu1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
Abstract:
Hydrogen-atom transfer mediated by earth-abundant transition-metal hydrides (M-Hs) has emerged as a powerful tool in organic synthesis. Current methods to generate M-Hs most frequently rely on oxidatively initiated hydride transfer. Herein, we report a reductive approach to generate Co-H, which allows for canonical hydrogen evolution reactions to be intercepted by hydrogen-atom transfer to an alkene. Electroanalytical and spectroscopic studies provided mechanistic insights into the formation and reactivity of Co-H, which enabled the development of two new alkene hydrofunctionalization reactions.
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