Hydrogenation of (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)nitrobenzenes to (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)anilines catalyzed by palladium–nickel bimetallic nanoparticles

Abstract

Since palladium-catalysts have strong abilities for both hydrogenation of nitro-group and hydrogenolysis of benzylamine, they have a much lower chemoselectivity for the hydrogenation of (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)nitrobenzenes. In this article, component stable Pd–Ni bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by simply heating RANEY®-Ni and Na₂PdCl₄ together in water. They demonstrated novel synergistic effects when they were used as a bimetallic catalyst, by which a highly efficient and chemoselective hydrogenation of (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)nitrobenzenes to (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)anilines was achieved.