Chapter 8 Carrier Effect on Hydrogenation Properties of Metals

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the carrier effect on hydrogenation properties of metals. The data on hydrogenation of ethylenic and acetlyenic bonds in linear hydrocarbons, of aromatics or cyclo-olefins and also of other functions are considered. Some enantioselective hydrogenations are reviewed. The type of the hydrogenation reaction and the nature of the supported metal are discussed. Differences between the hydrogenating properties of metals on various supports can be caused by a number of factors like the particle size effect. If this effect is neglected for reaction that are not structure sensitive the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect accounts for these differences. General correlations between the enhancement (or reduction) of catalytic activity and/or selectivity and the nature of the phenomena occurring in the SMSI state cannot be formulated. The nature of the hydrogenation reaction and of the metal-support combination introduces unpredictable consequences for the catalytic activity and selectivity in the SMSI state. Electronic and geometric effects and their combination are involved in this state and need to be better understood before the effect of the support on the hydrogenating properties of the metal can be given.