Precisely Tailoring Selectivity via Target Group's Steered Adsorption on Cu2O/Tantalate Catalysts for Hydrogenation of 3-Nitrostyrene

The selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes bearing competitive reducible groups to produce functionalized amino compounds has wide application in industrial production. However, to control only reducing the target group is still a challenge. Here, Cu2O/M2Ta2O6 (M=H, Li, Na, K, Ag, Bi) catalysts were prepared to evaluate their catalytic performance using 3-nitrostyrene (3-NS) as a model reaction. The results confirm pristine Cu2O has a highly activity to hydrogenate 3-NS but low selectivity with the coexisted products of 3-vinylaniline (3-VA), 3-ethylaniline(3-EA) and 1-ethyl-3-nitrobenzene (3-NE), whereas the independent tantalate can converse 3-NS to sole product 3-VA via absolutely preferential reduction of -NO2 moiety but with a low conversion rate. Importantly, if combining Cu2O and tantalate, the activity and selectivity of the appointed product were all obviously increased. Furthermore, the hydrogenation activity of 3-NS to generate 3-VA is positively related with the catalysts' intrinsic basicity and the preferential adsorption toward -NO2 group.

Automated summary

The selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes has wide application in industrial production. Combining Cu2O and tantalate catalysts can increase the activity and selectivity. The activity and selectivity are related to the catalysts' intrinsic basicity and the preferential adsorption toward functional groups.