A highly efficient noble metal free photocatalytic hydrogen evolution system containing MoP and CdS quantum dots.

We report the construction of a highly efficient noble metal free photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution system using CdS quantum dots as the light absorber and metallic MoP as the cocatalyst. MoP can be prepared by a facile temperature programmed reduction method and small clusters of MoP nanoparticles sized 10-30 nm were obtained by probe ultrasonication. The effect of synthesis conditions on the electrocatalytic and photocatalytic H2 evolution activity of MoP was investigated.

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular Heck reaction of alkyl halides.

Intermolecular Heck reaction of common alkyl halides, a longstanding problem in palladium catalysis, is realized with a simple Pd/dppf catalyst. Both primary and secondary alkyl halides are suitable for coupling with aromatic olefins. Single electron transfer from (dppf)Pd(0) to alkyl halide initiated the catalytic cycle and gave alkyl radicals.

Selective arylation and vinylation at the α position of vinylarenes.

In intermolecular Heck reactions of styrene and vinylarenes, the aryl and vinyl groups routinely insert at the β position. However, selective insertion at the α position has been very rare. Herein, we provide a missing piece in the palette of Heck reaction, which gave >20:1 α selectivity.