Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Synergistic RuCo atomic pair with enhanced activity toward levulinic acid hydrogenation
Haonan Zhang1, Yuhang Sun1, Shuo Wang1
1School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China.
Abstract:
Development of efficient metal-based catalysts is of great importance for levulinic acid (LA) hydrogenation to γ-valerolactone (GVL). The widely employed Ru-based catalysts are advantageous for H2 dissociation, however, the steric hindrance of large Ru particles hampers their coordination to CO moiety in LA, and thereby decreasing the activity. Herein, we report a Ru1Co1NC double single-atom catalyst (DSAC) with synergistic Ru and Co atomic pairs for LA hydrogenation into GVL. The Ru and Co doped zeolitic imidazole frameworks (RuCo-doped ZIF-8) precursor was rationally designed ((Ru + Co)/(Zn + Ru + Co) = 2 at.%), where the Zn node spatially isolates Ru and Co species, expanding the adjacent RuCo distance and facilitating the formation of the RuCo atomic pair upon pyrolysis, with each atom coordinated with three nitrogen atoms (N3Ru1Co1N3). The Ru1Co1NC catalyst exhibits outstanding catalytic activity, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 1980 h-1, surpassing previously reported Ru-based catalysts. Experimental investigation and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the electron-rich Ru induced by less electronegative Co facilitates H2 dissociation, while atomic Ru in dual-atomic pairs promotes CO activation, Ru and Co atomic pairs synergistically enhancing LA conversion to GVL. This research will shed light on the precise control of active sites at atomic scale, and also provides a new concept for designing high-performance Ru-based catalysts towards LA hydrogenation to GVL.
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
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
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 Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
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.
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
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...
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect

