Plasmonic catalysis improves propylbenzene yield in hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde under visible light, suggesting a novel approach for selective reactions.
The selective hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, such as cinnamaldehyde (CAL), into value‐added aromatic hydrocarbons like propylbenzene (PPR) remains a formidable challenge due to competing CC and CO hydrogenation pathways. Here, a plasmon‐enhanced catalytic strategy employing Au@Au 3 Pd core–shell nanoparticles supported on silica is reported. The catalyst features a plasmonic Au core and a 1 nm Au 3 Pd alloyed shell (25 at% Pd), enabling light‐driven modulation of reaction selectivity. Under visible‐light irradiation, the catalyst achieves complete CAL conversion with a ≈34% yield of PPR, corresponding to a 7.7‐fold enhancement in turnover frequency relative to dark conditions. Density functional theory calculations reveal that interfacial electronic coupling between the Au core and Pd‐rich shell upshifts the Pd d ‐band center and enhances charge transfer, promoting both CC and CO hydrogenation steps followed by hydrogenolysis to PPR. This study demonstrates a robust approach to overcome selectivity limitations in multifunctional molecule hydrogenation by harnessing localized surface plasmon resonance effects. The insights gained offer a foundation for the rational design of light‐responsive bimetallic catalysts for selective and sustainable transformations.
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Frindy et al. (2025) studied this question.
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