Catalytic Semireduction of Internal Alkynes with All-Metal Aromatic Complexes

A simple catalytic method involving all-metal aromatic frameworks as precatalysts ensures an efficient route to (Z)-alkenes. Aromatic triangular palladium clusters were used to reduce internal alkynes without any trace of the formation of alkane side products. These trinuclear complexes provide a catalytic system that parallels the activity and selectivity of their best mononuclear peers, and the catalyst likely operates through complementary mechanisms