Nitrogen-doped mesoporous SiC materials with catalytically active cobalt nanoparticles for the efficient and selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Mirco Eckardt,Rhett Kempe,Muhammad Zaheer

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20976-z

Mirco Eckardt, Rhett Kempe + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20976-z

Copy DOI

Abstract

Mesoporous nitrogen-doped silicon carbide catalysts with integrated cobalt nanoparticles (Co@N-SiC) were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of a microphase-separated block copolymer of polycarbosilane and polyethylene. The catalysts are highly active, reusable and offer selective hydrogenation of the nitro group in the presence of hydrogenation-sensitive functional groups.

Highlights

Intensive efforts have been devoted recently to designing novel catalysts with enhanced catalytic properties utilizing earth-abundant transition metals[1,2,3]
We have demonstrated the catalytic potential of metal@silicon carbonitride (SiCN) materials for various transformations[47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54], including a cobalt-based catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes and the direct synthesis of imines and benzimidazoles from nitroarenes and aldehydes[55]
The synthesis of Co@N-Silicon carbide (SiC) is summarized in Fig. 1, while details are provided in the supporting information (SI)

Summary

Introduction

Intensive efforts have been devoted recently to designing novel catalysts with enhanced catalytic properties utilizing earth-abundant transition metals[1,2,3]. Beller and co-workers[19], for instance, developed a cobalt-oxide@N-carbon catalyst by the thermal decomposition of a specific cobalt complex for the selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes. This is an industrially important reaction, as aniline and its derivatives find applications in the synthesis of pharmaceutical, dyes, polymers, agrichemicals and other fine chemicals[20,21]. We have demonstrated the catalytic potential of metal@SiCN materials for various transformations[47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54], including a cobalt-based catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes and the direct synthesis of imines and benzimidazoles from nitroarenes and aldehydes[55]. We report the development of a N-doped mesoporous SiC cobalt nanocomposite material (Co@N-SiC) which affords remarkable activity, selectivity and reuse in the hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Methods

Results

Conclusion