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Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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...
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Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

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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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Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry01:26

Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

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The absorption of UV–visible light by conjugated systems causes the promotion of an electron from the ground state to the excited state. Consequently, photochemical electrocyclic reactions proceed via the excited-state HOMO rather than the ground-state HOMO. Since the ground- and excited-state HOMOs have different symmetries, the stereochemical outcome of electrocyclic reactions depends on the mode of activation; i.e., thermal or photochemical.
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
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Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:24

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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.
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Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation01:28

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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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Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview01:26

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Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
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Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
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Photoswitchable Transformation between Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis Enabled by Azobenzene-Functionalized

Shu Shi1, Mengmeng Zhang2, Manish Kumar Dinker1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, China.

Nano Letters
|February 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed light-responsive metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) that switch between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. This innovation offers a novel way to combine high catalytic activity with easy separation, addressing a key challenge in catalysis.

Keywords:
azobenzeneheterogeneous catalysishomogeneous catalysismetal−organic polyhedraphotoswitchable transformation

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Area of Science:

  • Catalysis
  • Materials Science
  • Photochemistry

Background:

  • Homogeneous catalysts offer high activity but are difficult to separate.
  • Heterogeneous catalysts are easily separated but often less active.
  • Bridging this gap is a persistent challenge in chemical synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a photoswitchable catalyst system that can transition between homogeneous and heterogeneous states.
  • To utilize azobenzene-functionalized metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) for light-controlled catalysis.
  • To address the challenge of combining high catalytic activity with facile separation.

Main Methods:

  • Grafting azobenzene moieties onto Rhodium-based MOPs (RhMOPs).
  • Utilizing light-triggered trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene for phase switching.
  • Investigating catalyst performance in CO2 cycloaddition reactions.

Main Results:

  • Visible light stabilized the trans isomer, promoting homogeneous catalysis.
  • UV light induced cis isomerization, triggering catalyst precipitation for heterogeneous catalysis.
  • Achieved a 52% yield differential in CO2 cycloaddition based on phase switching.

Conclusions:

  • Azobenzene-functionalized MOPs enable light-controlled switching between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.
  • The system demonstrates tunable active site accessibility and steric effects.
  • This approach offers a promising strategy for developing advanced catalytic systems.