The semi-hydrogenation of alkynols to enols is a crucial process in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fragrances, and flavors that involves a complex set of parallel and consecutive isomerization and hydrogenation reactions and proceeds via several key intermediates. In view of the industrial importance of large-scale enol production through alkynol hydrogenation, various noble and non-noble metal (e.g., Ni and Pd)-based catalysts promoting this transformation have been developed. This paper reviews the design of highly selective catalysts for the semi-hydrogenation of alkynols, focusing on the role of additives, second metals, catalyst supports, and reaction conditions and combining catalytic reaction kinetics with theoretical calculations to establish the reaction mechanism and the decisive factors for boosting selectivity. Finally, a strategy for designing highly efficient and selective catalysts based on the characteristics of aqueous-phase alkynol hydrogenation is proposed.

炔醇半氢化为烯醇是制药、农用化学品、香料和香精生产中的关键过程，涉及一组复杂的平行和连续异构化和氢化反应，并通过以下方式进行几个关键中间体。鉴于通过炔醇加氢大规模生产烯醇的工业重要性，已经开发了各种基于贵金属和非贵金属（例如，Ni 和 Pd）的催化剂来促进这种转化。本文综述了炔醇半加氢高选择性催化剂的设计，重点研究了添加剂、第二金属、催化剂载体和反应条件的作用，结合催化反应动力学和理论计算，建立了反应机理和决定性因素。以提高选择性。最后，提出了一种基于水相炔醇加氢特性的高效选择性催化剂的设计策略。