Photocatalytic reduction of nitroaromatics into anilines using CeO2-TiO2 nanocomposite

The reduction of nitro compounds into amines is an important approach for synthetic and pharmaceutical chemistry. The reduced compounds are used as synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of therapeutic molecules. In the present work, we have fabricated cerium dioxide decorated TiO2 nanoparticles using a sol-gelhydrothermal method. The synthesized nanocomposite was effectively reduced various nitro-compounds, specifically aromatic nitro compounds, into amines in visible light. All the nitro compounds screened in the photoreduction reaction showed >90% conversion with >96% selectivity. Chromatographic techniques confirmed the products obtained. The nanocomposite photocatalyst has excellent stability under the experimental condition and exhibited up to five cycles with no loss of metal content. The nanomaterials were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques.

Automated summary

Nitro compounds can be efficiently reduced to amines using cerium dioxide decorated TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized through a sol-gelhydrothermal method. The nanocomposite exhibits high stability and can be reused for up to five cycles without loss of metal content. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques.