Nature Catalysis

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 11 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01554-3 Electrocatalysts for ammonia oxidation tend to be poisoned by nitrogen-based intermediates. Here the authors use an electrode-alternating strategy that uses pulsed potential reversal to continuously regenerate the deactivated surface, enabling Pt-based ammonia electrolysis for over 1,000 h.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01539-2 Direct hydrogen atom transfer (d-HAT) for C(sp3)–H functionalization classically relies on O-centred photocatalysts. Now, neutral N-centred acridine photocatalysts have been added to the toolbox, enabling mild, scalable d-HAT that is compatible with a broad substrate scope and transition metal catalysis.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01549-0 Functionalization of saturated azacycles through Pd-catalysed C3-C(sp3)–H activation leveraging the endocyclic nitrogen as a directing group has been hindered by the intrinsic geometric strain of the palladacycle intermediate. Now, an amine N-oxide strategy overcomes this issue by forming a favourable five-membered p…

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01547-2 Metal dissolution is a common cause for catalyst deactivation in heterogenous catalysis. Now, after mapping Pd speciation as a function of pH, a cooperative enhancement mechanism between separated Au/C and Pd/C catalysts and involving solid and dissolved Pd species is identified for alcohol oxidation.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01552-5 Selective C–C bond activation adjacent to two heteroatoms is challenging due to competing C–X cleavage. This work develops a Ni–Al catalytic system that enables precise activation of the inert C2–C3 bond in β-lactams, facilitating efficient annulations with π-systems with high regiocontrol.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01548-1 The C–H activation of secondary and tertiary amines under directed Pd(II) catalysis remains challenging. Now the authors report a Pd-catalysed, site- and diastereoselective C3-C(sp3)–H arylation of saturated azacycles, enabled by conversion of the endocyclic nitrogen as N-oxide directing group and a bifunctional liga…

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 01 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01546-3 Bifunctional oxide–zeolite catalysts work in tandem to produce light olefins from syngas, but the precise mechanistic picture is complex and remains elusive. Now the reaction mechanism on a ZnCrOx/mordenite catalyst is studied in detail using a diffusion-bridged microkinetic model, and design principles are proposed.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01541-8 Photosynthetic biohybrid systems are promising technologies for solar-driven chemistry, but real-world implementation requires a deeper understanding of the abiotic/biotic interface. Now, single-particle imaging reveals that crystal facets and cell density govern charge transfer.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01540-9 Propylene production from propane faces persistent catalytic limitations. Now, an unusual form of subnanometre platinum–tin clusters confined within zeolite pores overcome the long-standing productivity–stability trade-off in propane dehydrogenation.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01543-6 The 59th edition of the Jahrestreffen Deutscher Katalytiker (annual meeting of the German catalysis scientists) provided a high-quality overview of recent advancements in catalysis research. This Meeting Report collects some impressions, themes and emerging trends from this year’s contributions.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01538-3 PtSn catalysts are most effective for propane dehydrogenation but structural tunability remains challenging. Now the use of molecular complex precursors unlocks access to subnanometre alloyed PtSn clusters within silicalite-1. The Pt in the clusters undergoes diverse and rapid interconversion among different electroni…

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 22 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01544-5 Pt-based alloys are among the most active catalysts for fuel cells, but strategies to improve their performance are still needed. Now a series of non-metal-modified Pt-based compositionally complex alloys is prepared via a general solvothermal approach and tested for the oxygen reduction reaction, where PtCuNiCoN is s…

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01535-6 Direct electrocatalytic oxidation of propylene in aqueous solution has been limited to precious-metal catalysts in halogenated electrolytes. Now, a perovskite oxide has achieved 40% Faradaic efficiency towards propylene oxide and glycol using water as the oxygen source in a phosphate/polyphosphate electrolyte.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01545-4 Author Correction: Peaks and pitfalls of electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction descriptor models

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01532-9 Stereoselective radical C–C couplings remain a major challenge. Now photometallobiocatalytic cross-coupling of organotrifluoroborates and α-diazoesters is achieved with high enantio- and diastereoselectivity via an outer-sphere radical mechanism mediated by engineered cytochrome c and eosin B.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01531-w Pt-based alloy clusters within zeolite channels are promising catalysts for the dehydrogenation of alkanes, but controlling their distribution under operation is challenging. Now a water-soaking treatment to regenerate and minimize atom migration in K–PtSn@MFI catalysts is introduced, resulting in enhanced stability…

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01528-5 Stereocontrol over radical intermediates is highly sought after in asymmetric organic synthesis, yet current approaches remain limited and difficult to generalize. A photobiocatalytic strategy employing thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)‑dependent enzymes now achieves simultaneous and precise control over two prochiral rad…

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01534-7 Supramolecular control of cationic intermediates

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01529-4 What if substantial biochemical information remains absent from current genome-scale metabolic models? By merging retrobiosynthesis with deep learning, Yeast-MetaTwin uncovers promiscuous reactions and predicts degradation routes with tangible engineering consequences.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01520-z The hydrogenation of pyridine molecules to their corresponding piperidines remains a particularly challenging transformation. Now, a class of catalytic materials based on the encapsulation of metal nanoparticles within zeolite frameworks has emerged as a promising solution to this challenge.