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Chemical modifiers enhance the efficiency of metal catalysts in numerous applications, but their introduction often involves toxic or expensive precursors and complicates the synthesis. Here, we show that a porous boron nitride carrier can directly modify supported palladium nanoparticles, originating unparalleled performance in the continuous semi‐hydrogenation of alkynes. Analysis of the impact of various structural parameters reveals that using a defective high surface area boron nitride and ensuring a palladium particle size of 4–5 nm is critical for maximizing the specific rate. The combined experimental and theoretical analyses point towards boron incorporation from defects in the support to the palladium subsurface, creating the desired isolated ensembles determining the selectivity. This practical approach highlights the unexplored potential of using tailored carriers for catalyst design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical modifiers enhance the efficiency of metal catalysts in numerous applications, but their introduction often involves toxic or expensive precursors and complicates the synthesis. Here, we show that a porous boron nitride carrier can directly modify supported palladium nanoparticles, originating unparalleled performance in the continuous semi‐hydrogenation of alkynes. Analysis of the impact of various structural parameters reveals that using a defective high surface area boron nitride and ensuring a palladium particle size of 4–5 nm is critical for maximizing the specific rate. The combined experimental and theoretical analyses point towards boron incorporation from defects in the support to the palladium subsurface, creating the desired isolated ensembles determining the selectivity. This practical approach highlights the unexplored potential of using tailored carriers for catalyst design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nitrogen-doped carbons (NDCs) as host materials for single-atom catalysts (SACs) is increasing because of the strong binding affinity of the heteroatom with transition metals. Establishment of the relation between the properties of NDCs, their interaction with metals, and the performance of the resulting catalysts is crucial to guide the design of more effective SACs but has not been critically addressed. Here, a series of NDCs is prepared and studied as hosts for palladium atoms. The amount of nitrogen incorporated primarily depends on the choice of carbon followed by the doping temperature and nitrogen source. Pyridinic and pyrrolic species predominate in all cases, especially at lower doping temperatures. The stabilization of palladium atoms is successful above a critical nitrogen content that depends on the carbon type. Evaluation in the catalytic semi-hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol readily distinguishes the reactivity of single atoms and nanoparticles, which correlates with the electronic properties of palladium described by the average oxidation state. Comparison with SACs based on compositionally-related carbon nitride hosts shows that similarly high stability and tunability of the metal is achievable over NDCs, despite their lower nitrogen contents and greater heterogeneity of coordination sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) exhibits unique properties as a support for single-atom heterogeneous catalysts (SAHCs). Understanding how the synthesis method, carrier properties, and metal identity impact the isolation of metal centers is essential to guide their design. This study compares the effectiveness of direct and postsynthetic routes to prepare SAHCs by incorporating palladium, silver, iridium, platinum, or gold in g-C3N4 of distinct morphology (bulk, mesoporous and exfoliated). The speciation (single atoms, dimers, clusters, or nanoparticles), distribution, and oxidation state of the supported metals are characterized by multiple techniques including extensive use of aberration-corrected electron microscopy. SAHCs are most readily attained via direct approaches applying copolymerizable metal precursors and employing high surface area carriers. In contrast, although post-synthetic routes enable improved control over the metal loading, nanoparticle formation is more prevalent. Comparison of the carrier morphologies also points toward the involvement of defects in stabilizing single atoms. The distinct metal dispersions are rationalized by density functional theory and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, highlighting the interplay between the adsorption energetics and diffusion kinetics. Evaluation in the continuous three-phase semihydrogenation of 1-hexyne identifies controlling the metal-carrier interaction and exposing the metal sites at the surface layer as key challenges in designing efficient SAHCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds has received considerable attention in the research area of sustainable organic synthesis; however, water, the ultimate green source of hydrogen, has rarely been investigated due to the high barrier associated with splitting of water molecules. We report a carbon‐nitride‐supported palladium single‐atom heterogeneous catalyst with unparalleled performance in photocatalytic water‐donating transfer hydrogenation compared to its nanoparticle counterparts. Isotopic‐labeling experiments and operando nuclear magnetic resonance measurements confirm the direct hydrogenation mechanism using in situ‐generated protons from water splitting under visible‐light irradiation. Density functional theory calculations attribute the high activity to lower barriers for hydrogenation, facilitated desorption of ethylbenzene, and facile hydrogen replenishment from water on the atomic palladium sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds has received considerable attention in the research area of sustainable organic synthesis; however, water, the ultimate green source of hydrogen, has rarely been investigated due to the high barrier associated with splitting of water molecules. We report a carbon‐nitride‐supported palladium single‐atom heterogeneous catalyst with unparalleled performance in photocatalytic water‐donating transfer hydrogenation compared to its nanoparticle counterparts. Isotopic‐labeling experiments and operando nuclear magnetic resonance measurements confirm the direct hydrogenation mechanism using in situ‐generated protons from water splitting under visible‐light irradiation. Density functional theory calculations attribute the high activity to lower barriers for hydrogenation, facilitated desorption of ethylbenzene, and facile hydrogen replenishment from water on the atomic palladium sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the preparation and hydrogenation performance of a single-site palladium catalyst that was obtained by the anchoring of Pd atoms into the cavities of mesoporous polymeric graphitic carbon nitride. The characterization of the material confirmed the atomic dispersion of the palladium phase throughout the sample. The catalyst was applied for three-phase hydrogenations of alkynes and nitroarenes in a continuous-flow reactor, showing its high activity and product selectivity in comparison with benchmark catalysts based on nanoparticles. Density functional theory calculations provided fundamental insights into the material structure and attributed the high catalyst activity and selectivity to the facile hydrogen activation and hydrocarbon adsorption on atomically dispersed Pd sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wir beschreiben die Herstellung und das Hydrierungsverhalten eines Einzelatom ‐ Palladiumkatalysators, geschaffen durch die Verankerung von Pd ‐ Atomen in den Mesoporen eines graphitischen Kohlenstoffnitridpolymers. Die Analyse des Materials bestätigt die atomare Dispersion der Palladium ‐ Phase über die komplette Probe. Gegenüber nanopartikelbasierten Vergleichskatalysatoren zeigte sich die hohe Aktivität und Selektivität deutlich bei Anwendung in der kontinuierlichen Drei ‐ Phasen ‐ Hydrierung von Alkinen und Nitroarenen in einem Durchflussreaktor. Dichtefunktionalrechnungen ermöglichten die Erarbeitung fundamentaler Erkenntnisse betreffend Materialstruktur und erlaubten, die hohe katalytische Aktivität und Selektivität auf die einfache Wasserstoffaktivierung und Kohlenwasserstoffadsorption auf den atomar verteilten Pd ‐ Strukturen zurückzuführen. Ein (geschütztes) Atom genügt: Die einzigartige Porenstruktur von Kohlenstoffnitriden ermöglicht die stabile Einlagerung isolierter Palladiumatome. Dieser heterogene „Single ‐ site”︁ ‐ Katalysator für selektive Hydrierungen übertrifft die modifizierten Palladium ‐ Nanopartikel, welche den derzeitigen Stand der Technik darstellen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most birds build nests to incubate their eggs and raise their young in a protective environment. In their Communication on page 11265 ff., J. Pérez‐Ramírez, N. López et al. apply a nesting concept to anchor isolated palladium atoms within the cavities of graphitic carbon nitride. This leads to a stable single‐site heterogeneous catalyst with outstanding performance in hydrogenation reactions (artwork concept: Amalia Gallardo, illustration: Marcel Reich). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viele Vögel bauen Nester …︁ …︁, um ihre Eier auszubrüten und ihre Jungen in geschützter Umgebung großzuziehen. In ihrer Zuschrift auf S. 11417 ff. verwenden J. Pérez ‐ Ramírez, N. López et al. ein “Nestbau ‐ Konzept” für die Einlagerung isolierter Palladiumatome in den Poren von graphitischem Kohlenstoffnitrid. Dies führt zu einem hervorragenden heterogenen “Single ‐ Site” ‐ Katalysator für Hydrierungsreaktionen (Titelbildkonzept: Amalia Gallardo, Illustration: Marcel Reich). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]