Selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes and olefins over rhodium nanoparticles on hydroxyapatite

We have demonstrated a highly active and selective nanocatalyst, Rh/HAP (rhodium supported on hydroxyapatite), for the reduction of nitroarenes with hydrazine and for the hydrogenation of olefins with hydrogen gas under mild conditions. Nitroarenes were hydrogenated selectively to the corresponding anilines over the Rh/HAP catalyst with hydrazine as reducing agent, and reducible groups, such as halides (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine), cyano and alkene were untouched. Moreover, olefins can be hydrogenated selectively to the corresponding alkanes in good yields over the Rh/HAP catalyst in the presence of reducible nitro, carbonyl and cyano groups when H ₂ was used.