Chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes by highly dispersed Ni-Co BMNPs

Abstract

Highly dispread Ni-Co bimetallic nanoparticles (Ni-Co BMNPs) are synthesized and applied as an efficient catalyst in the chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes (CTH) using hydrazine hydrate as the hydrogen donor. The BMNPs can efficiently catalyze the reduction reaction without any additives under mild conditions with high TOF. Significantly higher activity is achieved when compared with corresponding single-component catalysts, optimal composition of the Ni-Co BMNPs was screened which was proved to be crucial in both the selectivity and yields. Excellent performance of Ni-Co BMNPs can be ascribed to the improved dispersion of active sites on the BMNPs surface (compared with Ni NPs) and the electron transfer from cobalt to nickel.