Nickel phosphide nanocatalysts for the chemoselective hydrogenation of alkynes

[EN] Well-defined 25 nm nickel phosphide nanoparticles act as a colloidal catalyst for the chemoselective hydrogenation of terminal and internal alkynes. Cis-alkenes are obtained in mild conditions with good conversion and selectivity. The phosphorus inserted in the Ni-P nanoparticles is critical for the selectivity of the nanocatalyst. Mechanistic investigations using isotope labeling provide insight on the reactants interaction with the nanoparticles surface. They pinpoint the occurrence of C-H bond cleavage in terminal alkynes during the reaction. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The DGA, the Ecole Polytechnique, the CNRS and the UPMC are acknowledged for financial support.Carenco, S.; Leyva Perez, A.; Concepción Heydorn, P.; Boissiere, C.; Mezailles, N.; Sanchez, C.; Corma Canós, A. (2012). Nickel phosphide nanocatalysts for the chemoselective hydrogenation of alkynes. Nano Today. 7:21-28. doi:10.1016/j.nantod.2011.12.003S2128