Design of highly active and chemoselective bimetallic gold–platinum hydrogenation catalysts through kinetic and isotopic studies

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2009.04.004
• Publication Date: 2009-05-09T04:09:53Z
• Authors: Pedro Serna; Patricia Concepción; Avelino Corma
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Abstract Kinetic model for the chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds on Au/TiO 2 has been established by combining the Hougen–Watson formalism and isotopic studies. It has been found that, with this catalyst, the controlling step corresponds to the dissociation of H 2 on gold atoms of low coordination. Taking this into account, a new bimetallic Au@Pt/TiO 2 solid has been prepared that, when optimised, increases the rate of H 2 dissociation while preserving high chemoselectivity. The resultant catalyst is the most effective catalyst reported, up to now, for hydrogenating nitroaromatic compounds in the presence of other sensitive functionalities.