Hydrogenolysis

Hydrogenolysis is the cleavage of a single bond to an organic- chemical connection between a carbon atom and one heteroatom or between two carbon atoms with hydrogen with catalysis according to the scheme

History

The term was coined by Carleton Ellis hydrogenolysis with respect to the hydrogenolysis of the carbon-carbon bonds. Previously Paul Sabatier hydrogenolysis of benzyl alcohol was observed for toluene and in 1906 had Padoa and Ponti observed the hydrogenolysis of furfuryl alcohol. Homer Burton Adkins and Ralph Connor were the first who called the carbon-oxygen bond cleavage hydrogenolysis.

Application

Such hydrogenolyses play a role in the desulfurization of petroleum fractions, the reductive removal of halogens in haloalkanes and the elimination of certain amino-protecting groups in peptide synthesis. Catalysts are often used to increase the reaction rate. This is often to sub-group elements, especially the platinum group metals such as palladium and platinum, but nickel in the form of Raney nickel or copper chromite.