Efficient and selective carbon-carbon coupling on coke-resistant PdAu single-atom alloys

Chem Commun (Camb). 2019 Dec 28;55(100):15085-15088. doi: 10.1039/c9cc07932g. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Abstract

We demonstrate that PdAu single-atom alloy model catalysts offer a heterogeneous route to selective Würtz-type C-C coupling. Specifically, when methyl iodide is exposed to an otherwise unreactive Au(111) surface, single Pd atoms in the surface layer promote C-I dissociation and C-C coupling, leading to the selective formation of ethane.