Palladium Nanocatalysts on Hydroxyapatite: Green Oxidation of Alcohols and Reduction of Nitroarenes in Water

A green procedure is described for supporting Pd nanoparticles on hydroxyapatite (HAP), which serves as a highly-stable heterogeneous catalyst displaying excellent activity for the aqueous expeditious reduction of nitroaromatics to the corresponding amines with sodium borohydride, and oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols by hydrogen peroxide with high yields and selectivities. The structural features of the prepared catalyst are confirmed by latest techniques including field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The reusability of the heterogeneous catalyst was affirmed in the aqueous reduction of nitrobenzene and oxidation of cycloheptanol for six consecutive runs without significant loss of catalytic activity.