Selective hydrogenation of nitrocyclohexane to cyclohexanone oxime over a Cu12Ag17(SR)12(PPh3)4 cluster catalyst

Abstract

Atomically precise metal cluster catalysts with crystallographically solved structures have been documented to be promising alternatives to tackle the challenge of selective hydrogenation of organics into high value products. Here we report that a Cu₁₂Ag₁₇(SR)₁₂(PPh₃)₄ (SR = 1,3-benzenedithiol) cluster as a heterogeneous catalyst can achieve a highly catalytic selectivity of cyclohexanone oxime in catalytic hydrogenation of nitrocyclohexane, due to the unique synergy in the bimetallic cluster.