Substrate‐Dependent Selectivity in Alkyne Semihydrogenation Over a Hydrogen‐Competent Pd ₃ Sn ₂ Intermetallic Catalyst

Abstract

ABSTRACT A recurring challenge in heterogeneous hydrogenation is to maintain rapid H 2 activation while preventing the product from undergoing overhydrogenation. Site isolation can weaken adsorption but frequently compromises hydrogen competence, and selectivity is often presumed transferable across closely related substrates. Here we establish a substrate‐dependent selectivity framework on Pd–Sn intermetallic catalysts by integrating theory‐guided site identification with experimental validation. Theoretical calculations reveal that Pd 3 Sn 2 hosts a distinctive surface structure in which Sn‐bridged Pd–Pd dual sites cooperate with adjacent near‐surface Pd to dissociate H 2 readily, while methyl substitution in C 3 intermediates weakens π‐binding and kinetically favors propylene desorption over further hydrogenation. Guided by these predictions, phase‐pure Pd 3 Sn, Pd 3 Sn 2 , and PdSn 2 intermetallic catalysts with comparable particle sizes were synthesized and verified by comprehensive characterizations including aberration‐corrected electron microscopy and x‐ray absorption spectroscopy. Under excess‐propylene conditions, the Pd 3 Sn 2 catalyst achieves 98.0% propylene selectivity at 100% propyne conversion, whereas the Pd and Pd 3 Sn catalysts suffer severe overhydrogenation and the PdSn 2 catalyst is intrinsically sluggish. Notably, the Pd 3 Sn 2 catalyst performs poorly for acetylene hydrogenation, leading to significant ethane formation via overhydrogenation of both newly formed and co‐fed ethylene. Complementary kinetic evidence supports the proposed mechanism by quantifying hydrogen activation competence and product residence on the intermetallic surfaces.