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Direct synthesis of a disinfectant with fresh scent of green plants by semi-hydrogenation of alkynol on Pd single-atom catalysts
Nano Research 2024, 17 (5): 3872-3878
Published: 28 December 2023
Downloads:120

Alcohol-based disinfectants have protected people in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but olfactory stimuli of ethanol may evoke unpleasant memories associated with stressful situations in the devastating infectious disease. The smell of ethanol in household cleaning and disinfectant products can be covered up by the fragrance additives, and 3-hexenol is especially appreciated for the characteristic, strong odor of green plants. Industrial production of 3-hexenol relies on the selective hydrogenation of 3-hexyn-1-ol, where Lindlar catalyst is normally used for the superior selectivity. Although achieving such catalytic transformation in ethanol solution seems as a direct way to produce a disinfectant with green aroma, a popular consumer product in the post-COVID era, severe leaching of toxic Pb hinders Lindlar catalyst as a promising candidate. We find that the Fe2O3 supported Pd single-atom catalyst is highly selective to fulfill semi-hydrogenation of 3-hexyn-1-ol in 75% ethanol, and the aforementioned household product is readily generated after filtrating the stable, solid catalyst out of reaction solution. Single-atom catalysts have been frequently utilized for fine-chemical synthesis, while in this work they make stunning debut in practical manufacture of daily used products.

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