Accessing Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry through Robust Gold@N-Doped Carbon for Selective Hydrogenation of Alkynes

Pyrolysis of Au(OAc)₃ in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline over TiO₂ furnishes a highly active and selective Au nanoparticle (NP) catalyst embedded in a nitrogen-doped carbon support, Au@N-doped carbon/TiO₂ catalyst. Parameters such as pyrolysis temperature, type of support, and nitrogen ligands as well as Au/ligand molar ratios were systematically investigated. Highly selective hydrogenation of numerous structurally diverse alkynes proceeded in moderate to excellent yield under mild conditions. The high selectivity toward the industrially important alkene substrates, functional group tolerance, and the high recyclability makes the catalytic system unique. Both high activity and selectivity are correlated with a frustrated Lewis pairs interface formed by the combination of gold and nitrogen atoms of N-doped carbon that, according to density functional theory calculations, can serve as a basic site to promote the heterolytic activation of H₂ under very mild conditions. This “fully heterogeneous” and recyclable gold catalyst makes the selective hydrogenation process environmentally and economically attractive.