Issue 3, 2017

Unique nanocages of 12CaO·7Al2O3 boost heterolytic hydrogen activation and selective hydrogenation of heteroarenes over ruthenium catalyst

Abstract

The chemoselective hydrogenation of heteroarenes is one of the most important synthetic reactions for the production of key intermediates in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and various fine chemicals. The development of new heterogeneous catalysts for the environmentally benign synthesis of heterocycle hydrogenated products is a fundamental objective for chemists. Here, we report that 12CaO·7Al2O3 with a unique sub-nanocage structure loaded with Ru nanoparticles exhibits higher activity, chemoselectivity and sustainability for the hydrogenation of heteroarenes in a solvent-free system than traditional oxide-supported metal catalysts. Conversion of >99% and a selectivity close to 99% were achieved for the hydrogenation of quinoline under mild conditions. This catalyst was also successfully applied to the hydrogenation of a variety of N- and O-heteroarenes with high yields. The superior catalytic performance can be attributed to a cooperative effect between the hydrogen-storage ability and large amount of strong basic sites on the surface of the support, which promotes heterolytic H2 cleavage and prevents poisoning of the metal surface caused by the adsorption of heteroarenes.

Graphical abstract: Unique nanocages of 12CaO·7Al2O3 boost heterolytic hydrogen activation and selective hydrogenation of heteroarenes over ruthenium catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Oct 2016
Accepted
25 Nov 2016
First published
28 Nov 2016

Green Chem., 2017,19, 749-756

Unique nanocages of 12CaO·7Al2O3 boost heterolytic hydrogen activation and selective hydrogenation of heteroarenes over ruthenium catalyst

T. Ye, J. Li, M. Kitano and H. Hosono, Green Chem., 2017, 19, 749 DOI: 10.1039/C6GC02782B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements