Predictable Catalysis of Electron-Rich Palladium Catalyst toward Aldehydes Hydrogenation

The catalytic properties of palladium can be purposely tailored through adjusting its electronic states by the interactions with supports. The palladium nanoparticles supported on N-doped carbon matrix are characterized explicitly as electron-enriched states via the charge transfer from the support to the metal. The electron-enriched Pd catalyst shows enhanced activity for catalytic reduction of aldehydes with electron-withdrawing groups, whereas it is detrimental to the hydrogenation of aldehydes with electron-donating groups.