Synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles by pyrolysis of vitamin B12: a non-noble-metal catalyst for efficient hydrogenation of nitriles

Abstract

A facile preparation of vitamin B₁₂-derived carbonaceous cobalt particles supported on ceria is reported. The resulting composite material is obtained upon wet impregnation of ceria with natural cyanocobalamin and consecutive pyrolysis under inert conditions. The novel catalyst shows good to excellent performance in the industrially relevant heterogeneous hydrogenation of nitriles to the corresponding primary amines.