Promotion of Activity and Selectivity By Alkanethiol Monolayers for Pd-Catalyzed Benzyl Alcohol Hydrodeoxygenation

1-Adamantanethiol monolayers slightly decreased the selectivity to benzene and improved the activity due to less available terrace sites for flat-lying benzyl alcohol and coke formation on Pd surface. In contrast, the dense octadecanethiol-coated Pd totally inhabited the flat-lying conformation on terrace sites and completely restrained the production of benzene.