Chemoselective reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of CuPd alloy nanoparticles decorated on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride as highly efficient catalyst

Abstract

Herein, we reported reductions of acid, amide, ester and ketone groups with selectivity (>99%) by the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of with CuPd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) decorated on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (Cu50Pd50/mpg-C3N4) catalyst under mild conditions in a water/methanol mixture. CuPd alloy NPs were synthesized by the co-reduction of palladium (II) acetylacetonate and copper(II) acetylacetonate in oleylamine (OAm) solution by the reduction of morpholine-borane solution and then assembled on mpg-C3N4 via liquid phase self‐assembly method. The α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were obtained from the condensation reaction of the benzaldehyde derivatives with acetone derivatives. Cu50Pd50/mpg-C3N4 nanocatalyst was characterized by TEM, XRD, XPS, BET and ICP‐MS. Cu50Pd50/mpg-C3N4 nanocatalyst is highly active catalyst for the reduction of various organic groups and converted to high yield and 99% selectivity. The superior Cu50Pd50/mpg-C3N4 nanocatalyst is highly efficient and reusable catalyst which is reuse after 5 cycle with 98% conversion.