Nickel phosphide nanocatalysts for the chemoselective hydrogenation of alkynes

International audienceWell-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 Csingle bondH bond cleavage in terminal alkynes during the reaction