Enhanced catalytic activity of cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated with an N-doped porous carbon shell derived from hollow ZIF-8 for efficient synthesis of nitriles from primary alcohols in water

A cobalt catalyst derived from a unique core-shell structure based on hollow ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 (ZIF-67@ZIF-8) is prepared, which exhibits excellent catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of nitriles from alcohols in water under mild conditions (1 atm O-2, 50 degrees C) owing to its large BET surface area, high pore volume, high basicity and hydrophilicity.