Alkane as Hydrogen Source: Pd/Photoredox Dual-Catalysis Enables Mild Olefin Hydrogenation

The development of safe and economical catalytic hydrogenation is a persistent challenge. The direct use of abundant alkanes as hydrogen donors under mild conditions is particularly desirable, yet conventional alkane dehydrogenation approaches for this purpose typically require harsh conditions (150°C-200°C) and tolerate a limited range of olefin substrates. Here, we report a cooperative palladium/photoredox catalytic system that enables the hydrogenation of unactivated olefins at room temperature using simple alkanes as the hydrogen source. This dual catalysis merges a photocatalyzed hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from alkanes with a palladium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer, achieving efficient olefin hydrogenation. Mechanistic studies support a radical-mediated pathway and confirm alkanes as the hydrogen source. This operationally simple method exhibits broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, allowing for the late-stage modification of complex molecules under mild conditions. This work establishes a general strategy for alkane utilization as convenient and versatile hydrogen donors, offering a mild alternative to traditional hydrogenation methods that generally rely on H₂ gas.