Exfoliated Pd/HNb3O8 nanosheet as highly efficient bifunctional catalyst for one-pot cascade reaction

Abstract

Ultrathin two-dimensional metal oxide nanosheets have drawn attention as potential solid acid catalysts owing to their strong acidity, attributed to the bridged OH groups formed on the nanosheets. In this study, a new class of bifunctional acid–metal catalyst was realized by the deposition of Pd on layered niobium oxide (KNb3O8 and HNb3O8) or its exfoliated nanosheet (Pd/HNb3O8-NS) and applied to one-pot cascade deacetalization and hydrogenation. It was found that the acid strength of the support exerted a large influence not only on the promotion of the first deacetalization step, but also on the acceleration of the subsequent hydrogenation step. Comparative experiments using a series of Pd/HZSM-5 catalysts with different acidities reconfirmed the crucial role of acid strength on hydrogenation. However, the superior catalytic activity of Pd/HNb3O8-NS for hydrogenation compared to that of Pd/HZSM-5 of similar acidity suggests a more efficient ensemble effect of the strong acid sites with the nearby metal sites on the nanosheet surface. Among the catalysts used, Pd/HNb3O8-NS showed the best catalytic performance for one-pot cascade reaction affording the desired product (benzyl alcohol) in approximately 92% yield, which was 7.1 and 1.2 times higher than that of layered Pd/KNb3O8 or Pd/HNb3O8, respectively. The excellent catalytic performance of Pd/HNb3O8-NS may result from the characteristic features of nanosheets: (i) the synergistic cooperation between the bifunctional active sites and (ii) the two-dimensional open surface offering easier access of the reactants to the active sites. Although the use of NaBH4 as hydrogen source was effective in improving the initial reaction performance, the basic nature of NaBH4 adversely resulted in weakening the acid strength of the catalyst, and consequently led to a reduction in catalytic activity.