PdFe nanoparticles as selective catalysts for C–C cleavage in hydrogenolysis of vicinal diol units in biomass-derived chemicals

A series of supported PdFe bimetallic nanoparticles with variable compositions are successfully synthesized through a careful reduction of a PdO/FeOx complex with a tunable support structure, which are demonstrated to achieve ultra-selective C-C bond cleavage over C-O bond of vicinal diol units in the hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived molecules: a gradual increase in the Fe(0) content of the bimetallic nanoparticles, as suggested by EXAFS analysis and DFT calculations, is shown to afford more enhanced selectivity of C-C cleavage, reaching a maximum value of 95%.