A Pd-Cu2O nanocomposite as an effective synergistic catalyst for selective semi-hydrogenation of the terminal alkynes only

Abstract

A new type lead-free catalyst of a Pd-Cu2O nanocomposite was developed for highly selective semi-hydrogenation of alkynes. With unprecedented selectivity for the semi-hydrogenation of terminal alkynes to alkenes, we show for the first time that the catalyst only hydrogenated the terminal alkynes, i.e. did not hydrogenate the internal alkynes.