Boron nitride containing vacant site defects for use in catalytic hydrogenation

A method of producing a boron nitride hexagonal lattice structure containing vacant site defects, the method comprising heating a molten mixture of NaBH4 and NaNH2 under an inert atmosphere to a temperature of at least 700° C., wherein the molar ratio of NaBH4:NaNH2 is 1:4-1:8 or 4:1-8:1.

A method of catalytically hydrogenating an unsaturated organic compound, the method comprising contacting the unsaturated organic compound with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of 80° C.-300° C., wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises a boron nitride hexagonal lattice structure in which boron atoms and nitrogen atoms are present in a B:N molar ratio of 1:4-1:8 or 4:1-8:1, wherein said molar ratio corresponds to vacant site defects within the boron nitride hexagonal lattice structure.