Convenient synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles for the hydrogenation of quinolines in water

Easily accessible cobalt nanoparticles are prepared by hydrolysis of NaBH(4)in the presence of inexpensive Co(ii) salts. The resulting material is an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of quinoline derivatives in water. The activity and chemoselectivity of this catalyst are comparable to other cobalt-based heterogeneous catalysts.