Plasmon-Enhanced Hydrogenation of 1-Dodecene and Toluene Using Ruthenium-Coated Gold Nanoparticles

While a key reaction for oil upgrade, the hydrogenation of arenes substrates remains a challenging one, requiring the use of transition-metal catalysts and harsher reaction conditions than classic hydrogenation processes. We designed a photocatalyst by deposition of Ru clusters onto plasmonic Au nanoparticles to accelerate this reaction, as well as the hydrogenation of alkenes. Light irradiation triggered an order of magnitude increase in the reaction rate for the hydrogenation of 1-dodecene and toluene at room temperature and under atmospheric to mild H2 pressures. The localized surface plasmon resonance featured by the supporting Au nanoparticles explains this interesting reactivity and was fully characterized by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). A potential mechanism is proposed to explain this light-induced reactivity enhancement.