A Biomass-Derived Non-Noble Cobalt Catalyst for Selective Hydrodehalogenation of Alkyl and (Hetero)Aryl Halides

Hydrodehalogenation is a straightforward approach for detoxifications of harmful anthropogenic organohalide-based pollutants, as well as removal of halide protecting groups used in multistep syntheses. A novel sustainable catalytic material was prepared from biowaste (chitosan) in combination with an earth-abundant cobalt salt. The heterogeneous catalyst was fully characterized by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, and successfully applied to hydrodehalogenation of alkyl and (hetero) aryl halides with broad scope (> 40 examples) and excellent chemoselectivity using molecular hydrogen as a reductant. The general usefulness of this method is demonstrated by successful detoxification of non-degradable pesticides and fire retardants. Moreover, the potential of the catalyst as a deprotection tool is demonstrated in a multistep synthesis of (+)-peronatin B (alkaloid).