Selective Hydrogenation of Phenylacetylene by Carbon Monoxide and Water

Catalytic selective hydrogenation of alkynes to the corresponding alkenes is an important process in industrial production. Modulating the selective hydrogenation of alkynes to the alkenes requires ingenuity since alkenes can easily be converted into the corresponding alkanes under reductive conditions. Applying different reductive reagents to prevent the direct usage of H2 can avoid difficulties in hydrogen storage and transportation. Herein, we demonstrate a tandem process to hydrogenate phenylacetylene by CO and H2O via the coupling of the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction and selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene utilizing the alpha-MoC catalyst. The reductive reagent, CO, not only produces H2 from H2O to drive ty of styrene by preventing further hydrogenation.