Batch and Continuous Flow Hydrogenation of Liquid and Gaseous Alkenes Catalyzed by a Silica‐grafted Iridium(III) Hydride

Abstract

The silica‐grafted hydride complex [IrH(SBA‐15)(PCP)] (2a; PCP = 1,3‐bis((di‐tert‐butylphosphino)methyl)benzene) hydrogenates alkenes under ambient condition without prior activation. Compared to its POCOP analogue (POCOP = 1,3‐bis((di‐tert‐butylphosphino)oxy)benzene), the activity of catalyst 2a is significantly improved with liquid substrates and exceptionally boosted with ethene and propene. Under gas flow conditions, catalyst 2a hydrogenates ethene with a remarkable turnover frequency of 0.95 s−1. A stability test indicates that the conversion is constant for at least 1 week.