PVP-Pd nanoparticles as efficient catalyst for nitroarene reduction under mild conditions in aqueous media

Abstract

The catalytic activity of PVP-Pd nanoparticles synthesized by electrochemical methods was explored in nitroaromatic hydrogenation reaction. In this transformation, the colloidal nanocatalyst proved to have outstanding catalytic activity under sustainable reaction conditions. This mild process efficiently reduced the nitroaromatic group at room temperature, without high pressure of molecular hydrogen and in aqueous medium. Furthermore, several functional groups were tolerated, given the corresponding substituted arylamines in excellent yields and with high TOF. In addition, one-pot reactions and tandem process were explored, in which nitroaromatic hydrogenation reaction was included in the synthesis of modified amines. This methodology was effectively incorporated in tandem reactions and one-pot procedures, achieving N-arylamines functionalized in good isolated yields. Finally, comparison of sustainable chemistry metrics analysis demonstrated that this methodology is a reliable approach to perform the nitro compound hydrogenation process.