Pd(0) nanoparticles supported on melamine functionalized SBA-15: An efficient catalyst for reduction of nitrobenzens

Aromatic amines are important intermediates in synthesis of several nitrogen containing biologically active compounds, agrochemicals, dyes, polymers, etc. Reduction of nitroarenes is a most common, short and facile route employed to prepare anilines and is one of the areas where major part of recent published work is targeted 1. The catalytic process for hydrogenation of nitrobenzene is an industrially principal reaction for the synthesis of aniline. About 85% of all over aniline in the world is produced by catalytic routes 2. In this work, we have used the nanocatalyst SBA-15/Pr-NH2-CH2-Melamine@Pd(0) (Fig. 1) as a heterogeneous catalyst for reduction of nitroarenes to arylamines in ethanol, (Scheme 1).Remarkable reusability and easy separation of the nanocatalyst, high yields and mild reaction conditions as well as the benefits of using ethanol as a green solvent are the advantages which make this protocol a perfect candidate for the reduction of nitroarens.

Keywords:

Nitro compounds , Pd(0) nanoparticles , Anilines , Reduction