Rational Design of Supported Metal Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of Sulfur-Containing Compounds

Abstract

Hydrogenation of nitro, carbonyl groups, and unsaturated bonds of sulfur-containing compounds over supported metal catalysts is a green process in the production of building blocks of bioactive natural compounds, drugs, pesticides, and so forth, but it is a challenging task due to the strong coordination and complexation of the lone pair electrons in sulfur atom with active sites in catalyst, leading to dramatically reduced activity. Previous studies emphasize the sulfur-resistant properties of catalysts in the hydrogenation of industrial feedstocks, but the direct hydrogenation of sulfur-containing compounds has received limited attention. In this concept, recent advances in the hydrogenation of sulfur-containing compounds were reviewed, including the strategies to improve the resistance of supported metal catalysts to sulfur poisoning. Finally, we give future perspectives on the development of efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of sulfur-containing compounds, and key factors influencing the hydrogen dissociation and migration in the presence of sulfur atoms are highlighted.