Here, we will discuss the development of robust Pd- and Ru-containing magnetically recoverable catalysts using commercially available, branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) or semi-natural chitosan as a green alternative to PEI. Both polymers stabilize magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) and then serve as capping and reducing agent for the formation of ~3 nm Pd or Ru NPs in the polymer shell. The catalyst properties were studied in a model reaction of 4-nitrophenol hydrogenation to 4-aminophenol with NaBH4. A similar catalytic NP size allowed us to decouple the NP size impact on the catalytic behavior from other parameters and to follow the influence of the catalytic metal type and amount as well as the polymer type and amount on the catalytic activity. The best catalytic performance, the 1.2 min-1 rate constant and the 433.2 min-1 TOF, were obtained for the Ru-containing catalyst based on PEI. High catalytic activity as well as the high stability of the catalyst performance in five consecutive catalytic cycles after magnetic separation makes this catalyst promising for nitroarene hydrogenation reactions.

Magnetically recoverable Pd and Ru nanoparticulate catalysts based on polyethyleneimine or chitosan: Major factors in nitroarene reduction

2019 Fall National Meeting

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