Efficient and Practical Arene Hydrogenation by Heterogeneous Catalysts under Mild Conditions

An efficient and practical arene hydrogenation procedure based on the use of heterogeneous platinum group catalysts has been developed. Rh/C is the most effective catalyst for the hydrogenation of the aromatic ring, which can be conducted in iPrOH under neutral conditions and at ordinary to medium H-2 pressures (< 10 atm). A variety of arenes such as alkylbenzenes, benzoic acids, pyridines, furans, are hydrogenated to the corresponding cyclohexyl and heterocyclic compounds in good to excellent yields. The use of Ru/C, less expensive than Rh/C, affords an effective and practical method for the hydrogenation of arenes including phenols. Both catalysts can be reused several times after simple filtration without any significant loss of catalytic activity.