The multiface of boron in boron-based propane oxidative dehydrogenation

The boron-based materials have been widely used in heterogenous catalysis including electrocatalysis, thermal catalysis, and photocatalysis. In recent years, boron-based materials have demonstrated remarkable catalytic performance in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP), and call for extensive studies to understand the underlying mechanisms governing the high propylene selectivity and low deep oxidation. In this perspective, the state-of-the-art mechanistic understanding of boron-based materials catalyzed ODHP was first presented. The discussion then focused on the "multiface" character of boron under ODH conditions, which refers to its ability to adopt multiple forms, i.e. sp- (−B=O), sp²- (>BOH, >BOB<, >BOOH), and sp³-hybridization (≡BOH) modes. This multiface character was analyzed in terms of the structure and reactivity of these boron species, as well as their roles in the C-H activation of propane and the suppression of deep oxidation. This knowledge frames a guideline for the knowledge-driven discovery of key boron species, and implicates to the rational design of boron-based ODH catalysts and radical scavengers.