Gallium‐Based Eutectic Alloys as Liquid Electron Donors to Ruthenium Single‐Atom Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of Vanillin

J Jia Song (Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) J Jianuo Liu (The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC Division of Life Sciences and Medicine University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui 230001 China) X Xiaorong Zhu X Xiaoming Mou (Analytical and Testing Center Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 China) H Handuo Zheng (School of Management University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) H Huang Zhou (The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine) W Wenyu Wang (Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy) Y Yong Guan (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory) J Jun Tang (The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine) Y Yue Lin L Lirong Zheng T Tao Yao (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Nuclear Science and Technology) J Juncai Dong (Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics) S Shiqiang Wei (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry) W Weixin Huang L Lin Gu J Jun Luo Y Yafei Li (Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science) Y Yafei Zhao Y Yuen Wu (The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine)

Abstract

Abstract Tuning the catalytic pathways of atomically dispersed single‐atom catalysts (SAC) has emerged as an effective strategy to optimize their overall catalytic activity. Herein, we present Ru 1 @m‐tube, a hollow carbon nitride‐supported Ru SAC, coated with eutectic galinstan (GaInSn), as a model catalyst, we demonstrate a performance inversion in vanillin conversion. Vanillin, as a biomass‐derived compound with industrial relevance, presents challenges in catalytic hydrogenation, making it an ideal model reaction to test and compare the catalyst's selectivity and efficiency. The as‐obtained Ru 1 @m‐tube(GaInSn) achieved nearly 100% vanillin conversion within 5 h and exhibited an impressive 93.8% selectivity for vanillyl alcohol. Electron spillover from gallium‐based eutectic alloys to highly diluted ruthenium sites enhances the desorption of vanillyl alcohol, resulting in an exceptional performance shift between hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation. Our findings not only offer a novel approach for modulating SAC performance via liquid–metal interfaces but also expand the understanding of promoter screening for various challenging reactions.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 25
Published June 17, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (20)

J

Jia Song

Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

J

Jianuo Liu

The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC Division of Life Sciences and Medicine University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui 230001 China

X

Xiaorong Zhu

X

Xiaoming Mou

Analytical and Testing Center Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 China

H

Handuo Zheng

School of Management University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

H

Huang Zhou

The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

W

Wenyu Wang

Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy

Y

Yong Guan

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory

J

Jun Tang

The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

Y

Yue Lin

L

Lirong Zheng

T

Tao Yao

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Nuclear Science and Technology

J

Juncai Dong

Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics

S

Shiqiang Wei

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry

W

Weixin Huang

L

Lin Gu

J

Jun Luo

Y

Yafei Li

Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science

Y

Yafei Zhao

Y

Yuen Wu

The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine