Selective Catalytic Hydrogenation of Heteroarenes with N-Graphene-Modified Cobalt Nanoparticles (Co3O4–Co/NGr@α-Al2O3)

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b06496
• Publication Date: 2015-08-21T09:13:44Z
• Authors: Feng Chen; Annette-Enrica Su...; Lin He; Marga-Martina Pohl; Jörg Radnik; Christoph Topf; Kathrin Junge; Matthias Beller
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Cobalt oxide/cobalt-based nanoparticles featuring a core-shell structure and nitrogen-doped graphene layers on alumina are obtained by pyrolysis of Co(OAc)2/phenanthroline. The resulting core-shell material (Co3O4-Co/NGr@α-Al2O3) was successfully applied in the catalytic hydrogenation of a variety of N-heteroarenes including quinolines, acridines, benzo[h], and 1,5-naphthyridine as well as unprotected indoles. The peculiar structure of the novel heterogeneous catalyst enables activation of molecular hydrogen at comparably low temperature. Both high activity and selectivity were achieved in these hydrogenation processes, to give important building blocks for bioactive compounds as well as the pharmaceutical industry.