Cobalt in N-doped carbon matrix catalyst for chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Anilines as important intermediates for both organic synthesis and industrial manufactory are densely substituted with a variety of functional moieties, and the transformation of nitroarenes into corresponding anilines requires catalytically selective hydrogenation catalyst. Herein, we describe a simple pyrolysis strategy to prepare cobalt catalysts in nitrogen-doped carbon matrix applied in the selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes with molecular hydrogen. The Co/NC catalysts are obtained through thermal treatment of mixed precursors of cobalt phthalocyanine and melamine. The surface-modified Co particles with Co₃O₄ and CoN_x sites are surrounded by N-doped carbon layers according to a series of structural characterization results. These Co/NC catalysts are capable of efficiently selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene and various substituted nitroarenes into corresponding anilines under relatively mild reaction conditions. The optimal catalytic hydrogenation performance is contributed to the fast rate of H₂ dissociated activation on the CoN_x active sites and the facile adsorption of the reactant substances, which is verified by the isotopic H₂-D₂ exchange experiments, reactant adsorption and the ORR reaction tests. Furthermore, the heterogeneous Co/NC catalyst is highly stable without the Co leaching and deactivation issues during the recycling reaction runs.