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Interface Engineering in Two‐Dimensional Heterostructures: Towards an Advanced Catalyst for Ullmann Couplings
Author(s) -
Sun Xu,
Deng Haitao,
Zhu Wenguang,
Yu Zhi,
Wu Changzheng,
Xie Yi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201508571
Subject(s) - catalysis , nucleophile , iodobenzene , electrophile , yield (engineering) , organic synthesis , chemistry , heterojunction , combinatorial chemistry , interface (matter) , nanotechnology , materials science , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , molecule , optoelectronics , metallurgy , engineering , gibbs isotherm
The design of advanced catalysts for organic reactions is of profound significance. During such processes, electrophilicity and nucleophilicity play vital roles in the activation of chemical bonds and ultimately speed up organic reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a new way to regulate the electro‐ and nucleophilicity of catalysts for organic transformations. Interface engineering in two‐dimensional heteronanostructures triggered electron transfer across the interface. The catalyst was thus rendered more electropositive, which led to superior performance in Ullmann reactions. In the presence of the engineered 2D Cu 2 S/MoS 2 heteronanostructure, the coupling of iodobenzene and para‐chlorophenol gave the desired product in 92 % yield under mild conditions (100 °C). Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited excellent stability as well as high recyclability with a yield of 89 % after five cycles. We propose that interface engineering could be widely employed for the development of new catalysts for organic reactions.