Electrochemical production of heterogeneous nickel catalysts for organic hydrogenations

Abstract

The electrochemical deposition of nickel on copper, tin, aluminium or nickel in N,N-dimethylformamide is described. The cathodic surface becomes catalytically active towards the addition of molecular hydrogen onto unsaturated organic compounds. The activity of the catalyst is influenced by the nature of the cathode: copper gives the highest reactivity, then, in order of decreasing activity, aluminium, tin and nickel. The behaviour of the catalytic surfaces obtained with copper cathodes is comparable to that of the group of Raney nickel catalysts.