Transition-metal-free
Zintl–Klemm phases have received little
attention as heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we show that a large family
of structurally and electronically similar layered Zintl–Klemm
phases built from honeycomb layers of group 13 triel (Tr) or group
14 tetrel (Tt) networks separated by electropositive cations (A) and
having a stoichiometry of ATr2 or ATrTt (A = Ca, Ba, Y,
La, Eu; Tr = Ga, In; Tt = Si, Ge) exhibit varying degrees of activity
for the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene and ethylbenzene
at 51 bar H2 and 40–100 °C across a variety
of solvents. The most active catalysts contain Ga with, formally,
a half-filled p
z
orbital, and minimal
bonding between neighboring Tr2 or TrTt layers. A 13-layer
trigonal polytype of CaGaGe (13T-CaGaGe) was the most active, cyclable,
and robust catalyst and under modest conditions (1 atm H2, 40 °C) had a surface specific activity (590 h–1) comparable to a commercial Lindlar’s catalyst. Additionally,
13T-CaGaGe maintained 100% conversion of phenylacetylene to styrene
at 51 bar H2, even after 5 months of air exposure. This
work reveals the structural design elements that lead to particularly
high catalytic activity in Zintl–Klemm phases, further establishing
them as a promising materials platform for hydrogen-based heterogeneous
catalysis.