Synthesis of a vinyl chloride monomer via acetylene hydrochlorination with a ruthenium-based N-heterocyclic carbene complex catalyst

With the implementation of the Minamata Convention and the urgent demand for green and efficient mercury-free catalysts, a carbon-supported IPr-(Ru)/AC catalyst was synthesized and assessed for its successful application in acetylene hydrochlorination. The results showed that the interplay between the central Ru and surrounding IPr ensured the stability and high-level dispersion of the active species on the surface of the host; the accelerated electron transfer from the N-heterocycle to Run+ boosted the electron cloud density around the active centres, increasing the relative amount of the active constituents. The delocalisation and transfer of electrons in IPr-(Ru) might synergistically improve the ability of the IPr- and Ru-sections in the catalyst to adsorb and activate H-Cl and C2H2, respectively, thus yielding a significant improvement in the original catalytic activity with respect to its counterpart. In addition, the complexation also greatly slowed down the deactivation of the catalyst and endowed the catalyst with a potential industrial application combined with its impressive stability with respect to the original Ru/AC.