Magnetically recoverable catalytic Co–Co2B nanocomposites for the chemoselective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds

Abstract

Magnetically recoverable and recyclable Co–Co₂B nanocomposites are described for the catalytic and chemoselective reduction of nitroarenes using two different hydrogen sources, sodium borohydride and hydrazine hydrate. Both the systems display an interesting chemoselective reduction switch. The kinetics of reduction of nitroaromatics were studied for the first time and follow nitroreductase enzyme-like kinetics with exceedingly high K_cat (5.2 × 10⁴ s⁻¹) and K_cat/K_M (4.4 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) values, reaching the state of catalytic perfection. The recyclability of the catalyst system was studied by magnetically recovering the nano composite catalyst.