Preparation of magnetically separable Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4-graphene catalyst and its application in selective reduction of nitroarenes

A magnetically separable and highly active Co-Cu mixed spinel catalyst, Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4-graphene (Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4-G), was fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The results demonstrated that the Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4-G possessed excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of a broad range of nitroarenes in the presence of NaBH4. The composite catalyst was efficient, stable, low-cost and could be easily recovered due to its magnetic separability. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,