Selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in aprotic media

Abstract

The kinetics of hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in aprotic media was studied, and a scheme of the mechanism and a kinetic equation, corresponding to it, for the initial reaction rate are proposed. High selectivity with respect to N-phenylhydroxylamine is apparently due to the aprotic nature and donor properties of the solvent and also to the functioning of the catalyst as a unique “hydrogen electrode.”