Pairwise Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Propyne on Supported Pd–Ag Catalysts Investigated by Parahydrogen-Induced Polarization

Alkyne semihydrogenation offers a key approach for the synthesis of stereodefined molecules. The stereoselective hydrogenation of propyne to propene over Al₂O₃-supported Pd–Ag bimetallic catalysts is studied by using parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) NMR technique. The supported catalysts were prepared by an incipient-wetness impregnation method, and their properties were systemically tuned by altering Pd and Ag components. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, and transmission electron microscope shows the formation of highly dispersed bimetallic Pd–Ag nanoparticles with random alloy structures on Al₂O₃ support. For the hydrogenation of propyne over Pd–Ag catalysts with higher Ag concentration, the adsorbed protons are mostly restricted on the active Pd ensembles, which favors a higher pairwise hydrogen addition to propyne, leading to a stronger PHIP effect. The product stereoselectivity measurements show that the pairwise syn-addition to propyne increases with Ag content in the Pd–Ag alloy. The reaction conditions impact the pairwise hydrogenation stereoselectivity. A lower H₂/propyne ratio of reactant flow or a higher total reactant flow rate enhances the apparent pairwise syn-addition stereoselectivity, which can be accounted for by the suppressed cis–trans isomerization process and/or a higher intrinsic pairwise syn-addition selectivity.