A Highly Active Cobalt Catalyst for the General and Selective Hydrogenation of Aromatic Heterocycles

Chemistry - A European Journal, vol. 29, pp. e202300561

Abstract

Nanostructured earth abundant metal catalysts that mediate important chemical reactions with high efficiency and selectivity are of great interest. This study introduces a synthesis protocol for nanostructured earth abundant metal catalysts. Three components, an inexpensive metal precursor, an easy to synthesize N/C precursor, and a porous support material undergo pyrolysis to give the catalyst material in a simple, single synthesis step. By applying this catalyst synthesis, a highly active cobalt catalyst for the general and selective hydrogenation of aromatic heterocycles could be generated. The reaction is important with regard to organic synthesis and hydrogen storage. The mild reaction conditions observed for quinolines permit the selective hydrogenation of numerous classes of N-, O- and S-heterocyclic compounds such as: quinoxalines, pyridines, pyrroles, indoles, isoquinoline, aciridine amine, phenanthroline, benzofuranes, and benzothiophenes.

Authors 4

1. Christof Bauer

   University of Bayreuth

   Affiliation as printed

   Inorganic Chemistry II – Catalyst Design Sustainable Chemistry Centre University of Bayreuth 95440 Bayreuth Germany

2. Sercan Keskin

   Leibniz-Institute for New Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials Campus D2 2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany

3. Mirijam Zobel Aachen Institute of Crystallography

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Crystallography RWTH Aachen University 52066 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Crystallography, RWTH Aachen University, 52066 Aachen, Germany

4. Rhett Kempe corresponding

   University of Bayreuth

   Affiliation as printed

   Inorganic Chemistry II – Catalyst Design Sustainable Chemistry Centre University of Bayreuth 95440 Bayreuth Germany