Enhanced CHOH selectivity in CO hydrogenation using Cu-based catalysts generated SOMC from Ga single-sites.

Small and narrowly distributed nanoparticles of copper alloyed with gallium supported on silica containing residual Ga sites can be obtained surface organometallic chemistry in a two-step process: (i) formation of isolated Ga surface sites on SiO and (ii) subsequent grafting of a Cu precursor, [Cu(O Bu)], followed by a treatment under H to generate CuGa alloys. This material is highly active and selective for CO hydrogenation to CHOH. X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that gallium is oxidized under reaction conditions while copper remains as Cu. This CuGa material only stabilizes methoxy surface species while no formate is detected according to infrared and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.