Issue 11, 2025

Direct styrene hydrogenation on a metal-free boron–nitrogen doped carbon catalyst

Abstract

We present a study of direct styrene hydrogenation to ethylbenzene by a metal-free catalyst. The catalyst is a nanohybrid made up of ultra-dispersed diamond (UDD) and graphitic sheets. The method to prepare the catalyst introduces the key active site (bearing B and N atoms) into the sp2 rich layer over the surface of UDD. The results show excellent catalytic activity for the direct hydrogenation of styrene to ethylbenzene in the presence of isopropyl alcohol, where hydrogen comes directly from the oxidation of the alcohol to acetone. The combination of experimental characterization and quantum chemical simulation indicates that a key role is played by direct B[double bond, length as m-dash]N bonds and pyrrolic-N is the most probable active site in the reaction.

Graphical abstract: Direct styrene hydrogenation on a metal-free boron–nitrogen doped carbon catalyst

Supplementary files

Transparent peer review

To support increased transparency, we offer authors the option to publish the peer review history alongside their article.

View this article’s peer review history

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
17 Dec 2024
Accepted
03 Apr 2025
First published
07 Apr 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Mater. Chem. Front., 2025,9, 1690-1701

Direct styrene hydrogenation on a metal-free boron–nitrogen doped carbon catalyst

N. Gupta, A. Soni, S. Kumar, M. Shandilya, E. Inico, I. Barlocco, G. Di Liberto and A. Villa, Mater. Chem. Front., 2025, 9, 1690 DOI: 10.1039/D4QM01107D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements