Biocatalysts
selectively activate chemical bonds via weak interactions;
however, this remains a significant barrier for artificial catalysts.
Herein, we report a biomimetic Pt/COF/SiO2 (COF: covalent
organic framework) catalyst with independently tunable sites of Pt,
COF, and SiO2. Inert aliphatic carbonyl compounds can be
efficiently converted into corresponding alcohols through the biomimetic
catalyst; conversely, catalysts such as Pt/SiO2 are hardly
successful. Compared with Pt/SiO2, the biomimetic catalyst
demonstrates a substantial increase in selectivity to phenyl ethanol
from 27.5 to 94.7% in acetophenone hydrogenation. The promoted activity
and selectivity of the biomimetic catalyst are attributed to the synergistic
catalysis of carbonyl hydrogenation on COF sites, H2 dissociation
on Pt, and hydrogen transfer through SiO2. The synergistic
catalysis with weak interactions is an efficient approach for the
selective hydrogenation of substrates with multiple unsaturated groups.