Methane‐to‐Methanol on Mononuclear Copper(II) Sites Supported on Al 2 O 3 : Structure of Active Sites from Electron Paramagnetic Resonance**

Single-Atom Nickel on Carbon Nitride Photocatalyst Achieves Semihydrogenation of Alkynes with Water Protons via Monovalent Nickel

Prospects in light-driven water activation have prompted rapid progress in hydrogenation reactions. We describe a Ni²⁺ -N₄ site built on carbon nitride for catalyzed semihydrogenation of alkynes, with water supplying protons, powered by visible-light irradiation. Importantly, the photocatalytic approach developed here enabled access to diverse deuterated alkenes in D₂ O with excellent deuterium incorporation. Under visible-light irradiation, evolution of a four-coordinate Ni²⁺ species into a three-coordinate Ni⁺ species was spectroscopically identified. In combination with theoretical calculations, the photo-evolved Ni⁺ is posited as HO-Ni⁺ -N₂ with an uncoordinated, protonated pyridinic nitrogen, formed by coupled Ni²⁺ reduction and water dissociation. The paired Ni-N prompts hydrogen liberation from water, and it renders desorption of alkene preferred over further hydrogenation to alkane, ensuring excellent semihydrogenation selectivity.

Electrochemically Initiated Synthesis of Methanesulfonic Acid

The direct sulfonation of methane to methanesulfonic acid was achieved in an electrochemical reactor without adding peroxide initiators. The synthesis proceeds only from oleum and methane. This is possible due to in situ formation of an initiating species from the electrolyte at a boron-doped diamond anode. Elevated pressure, moderate temperature and suitable current density are beneficial to reach high concentration at outstanding selectivity. The highest concentration of 3.7 M (approximately 62 % yield) at 97 % selectivity was reached with a stepped electric current program at 6.25-12.5 mA cm^-2 , 70 °C and 90 bar methane pressure in 22 hours. We present a novel, electrochemical method to produce methanesulfonic acid, propose a reaction mechanism and show general dependencies between parameters and yields for methanesulfonic acid.

Tetra metallic Copper Complex to Nanoscale Copper: Selective and Switchable Dehydrogenation-Hydrogenation under light

Discrete photoactive ultrafine nanocluster of copper with less than hundreds of atoms comprising stimuli-responsive switchable redox-active states is highly desired to control two different antagonistic reactions. Herein, we disclosed mixed-valent tetra metallic copper complex ( C-1 ) of N-O-N Schiff base ligand, in which its five different Cu-Cu interaction was utilized for the generation of photoactive nanoscale copper [LCu(0) n , S-1 ] via the reduction of coordinated imine to the amine of C-1 . The presence of ligand providing stability and assist to homogenize the material ( S-1 ) in the organic solvent. It showed stimuli (O 2 /light) responsive switchable performance between its reduced ( S-1 ) and oxidized [LCu(0) n-m CuO m , S-2 ] state and serve as highly and poorly active (bi-state, relative rate > 5-12 fold) catalyst for dehydrogenation of alcohols to aldehydes and hydrogenation of nitroaromatics to amino aromatics under the light.