Selective Hydrogenation of Phenols to Cyclohexanones Over Hydrotalcite‐Supported Pd Single‐Atom Catalyst

Y Yani Liu Q Qinglei Meng (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry) K Kaili Zhang W Wanying Han (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) X Xinrui Zheng (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) Y Yaqin Wang (Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University) Y Yibo Han (Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center and School of Physics) J Jingping Wang (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China) H Haihong Wu (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) M Mingyuan He (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) B Buxing Han (Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , , ,)

Abstract

Abstract Cyclohexanones are widely used chemicals and currently produced by the oxidation of the fossil feedstocks. Direct selective hydrogenation of lignin derivatives has great potential for producing these chemicals, but is challenging to obtain high yields. Here, we report that hydrotalcite‐supported Pd single‐atom (Pd/CHT‐800) catalyst enabled the hydrogenation of the benzene ring in the aromatics without the overreaction of carbonyl group, which could afford >99.9% yield of cyclohexanones using water as the reaction medium. The reaction mechanism was systematically studied by the control experiments and detailed in situ characterizations. In the Pd/CHT‐800 catalyst, the Pd‐O‐MgAl sites were formed, and the cooperation of the Pd atoms and calcined CHT material could not only realize the aromatic hydrogenation efficiently, but also inhibit the hydrogenation of the carbonyl group in the reaction effectively. This work provides a novel route for the sustainable production of cyclohexanones.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 29
Published July 14, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

Y

Yani Liu

Q

Qinglei Meng

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry

K

Kaili Zhang

W

Wanying Han

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

X

Xinrui Zheng

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

Y

Yaqin Wang

Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University

Y

Yibo Han

Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center and School of Physics

J

Jingping Wang

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China

H

Haihong Wu

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

M

Mingyuan He

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

B

Buxing Han

Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , , ,