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A scalable, and cost-effective method was employed to prepare self-supported CuSn bimetallic catalyst on carbon paper. The obtained CuSn catalyst demonstrates high faradaic efficiency of CO around or above 90% at a broad potential range from −0.7 to −1.8 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, greatly surpassing Cu or Sn counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of quasi-enantiomeric substrates and ESI-MS as an analytical tool has made it possible to determine the intrinsic enantioselectivity of chiral catalysts by monitoring catalytic intermediates. In this way, potential problems of methods based on product analysis, which may be caused by catalytically active impurities, partial dissociation of a chiral ligand–metal complex, or a non-catalytic background reaction can be avoided. ESI-MS-based screening is fast, reliable, and operationally simple, as it does not require work-up or purification steps. Moreover, mixtures of catalysts with different molecular masses can be screened simultaneously, which is not possible with methods relying on product analysis. In this way catalyst libraries prepared in one batch by combinatorial methods can be screened without the need to synthesize and purify the catalysts individually. This screening method was successfully applied to Pd-catalyzed allylic substitutions and metal-catalyzed and organocatalytic Diels–Alder reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral bifunctional phase transfer catalysts introducing bis(diarylhydroxymethyl) substituents at 3,3′-positions of the chiral binaphthyl core were successfully applied to asymmetric fluorination of cyclic β-keto esters with high enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A homodinuclear Ni2-Schiff base 1complex (0.1–1 mol%) promoted the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of β-keto esters with formaldehyde, giving hydroxymethylated adducts in 94–66% ee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α′-Hydroxyenones undergo clean, catalytic amidations with amines promoted by the combination of an N-heterocyclic carbene and 1,2,4-triazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of high-efficiency electrocatalysts for application in water oxidation in alkaline media remains a great challenge. In this paper, Ni3+-rich nanograss-like Mo-doped Ni3S2/NiS/VS arrays grown on nickel foam (denoted as Mo-NiVS@NF) have been successfully constructed through a hydro/solvothermal method. Interestingly, Mo-NiVS@NF exhibits superior catalytic OER performance, needing an overpotential of 217 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2, outperforming most previously reported NiS-based electrocatalysts. The result indicates that the Ni3+-rich active sites caused by the modulation of the electronic structure environment via the introduction of V and high-valency Mo play an important role in the high activity for the OER. Moreover, this catalyst shows high long-term electrochemical durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the advantage of atomic utilization, the single-atom catalyst has attracted much attention and been employed in multifarious catalytic reactions. Its definite site configuration is favorable for exploring the actual active centers and corresponding reaction mechanism. At the atomic scale, the tunable site configuration, from central metal atoms, coordinated heteroatoms, peripheral dopants, and feasible polymetallic centers to the synergetic intrinsic carbon defects, can effectively augment the intrinsic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). From a practical viewpoint, the propagation strategies of single-atom sites, the loading-activity relation and the structural retention during practical tests are crucial for the industrial applications. Furthermore, the activity contribution of multiple additional active centers including the active carbon sites and the pony-size well-wrapped metal species should be acknowledged. From the perspective mentioned above, this paper thoroughly analyses the consensuses, controversies, challenges and possible solutions based on the current research progress, thereby providing inspiration and guidance for the active center engineering of single-atom catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic water splitting, which is driven by renewable energy input to produce oxygen, has been widely regarded as a promising strategy in the future energy portfolio. The two-dimensional structure based on CoOOH nanosheets is easy to handle in the preparation process, low in cost, and has a small overpotential during water decomposition. Therefore, CoOOH two-dimensional materials have been widely used as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this paper, we summarize the application of two-dimensional CoOOH nanosheets in the field of oxygen production from electrocatalytic water splitting. First, the different preparation methods of two-dimensional CoOOH nanosheets are briefly introduced. The structure–activity relationship of the two-dimensional CoOOH catalyst was analyzed from different viewpoints, such as doping, defects, etc. Finally, different catalytic mechanisms of CoOOH-based catalysts are discussed, and studies at the density functional theory (DFT) level are also provided to support the above mechanisms. To improve the readability of this review, a concise overview at the end of each section is given to illustrate some of the characteristics and trends of the studies in the corresponding part. The opportunities and challenges of two-dimensional CoOOH as an electrocatalyst in the future are summarized in the Conclusion section. This work will provide new insights and perspectives to the readers to understand the role of CoOOH nanosheets in the OER process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates the potential of Eu2O3 and Gd2O3 as catalysts for non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation to propene. They reveal a higher activity than the state-of-the-art bare ZrO2-based catalysts due to the higher intrinsic activity of Gdcus or Eucus in comparison with that of Zrcus (cus = coordinatively unsaturated). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a binuclear Co(II)Pc which exhibits a previously unknown extremely high catalytic activity for the oxidation of a thiol to the corresponding disulfide. The high activity is explained by an electronic contact between the two Co centres in the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a possible mechanism of acetic acid formation from CO2, CH3I and H2 in aqueous media and the central role played by a water-soluble Rh-based electron storage catalyst. In addition to water-solubility, we also report the crystal structures of two presumed intermediates. These findings together reveal (1) the advantage of water, not only as a green solvent, but also as a reactive Lewis base to extract H+ from H2, (2) the role of the metal (Rh) centre as a point for storing electrons from H2 and (3) the importance of an electron-withdrawing ligand (quaterpyridine, qpy) that supports electron storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective and safe route is proposed to prepare supported Mo2C-based catalysts from organic–inorganic hybrids, which exhibit high activity and stability for producing H2from methanol catalytic decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a viable, reproducible and robust method for immobilising hydroxyl tethered iridium–rhodium complexes. The materials have been shown to be both effective and recyclable in the process of catalytic transfer hydrogenation with minimal metal leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, polymer nanocapsules embedded with noble metal nanoparticles and showing a good catalytic activity were prepared by a novel and convenient method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a lamellar NiMoCo@CuS catalyst, showing not only an excellent catalyst performance (η100@72 mV and a Tafel slope of 47 mV dec−1), but also a good stability (20 mA cm−2@30 hours), outperforming the NiMo system and noble Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]