Highly selective catalytic hydrogenation of arenes using rhodium nanoparticles supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Rhodium nanoparticles (RhNPs; 4.9 +/- 0.4 nm) supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Rh/MWNT), prepared by simple microwave treatment, show a remarkable catalytic activity for arene hydrogenation with enhanced turnover numbers of similar to 10000; disubstituted arenes show selective conversion of thermodynamically less favorable cis products (>80%). A series of arenes have been tested using various Rh-based catalysts, and a comparison of the results with that of reported rhodium catalysts shows unique selectivity under mild conditions.