Synthesis of l-methionine stabilized nickel nanowires and their application for catalytic oxidative transfer hydrogenation of isopropanol

Nickel nanowires (Ni NWs) were synthesized by the reducing action of hydrazine and stabilized by capping with l-methionine in aqueous solution. Characterization of the Ni NWs was carried out by UV–vis spectrometry, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Parameters like pH, concentration of reducing agent and molar ratio of Ni/l-methionine were found crucial for regulating the size of synthesized Ni NWs. The fabricated Ni NWs were employed as catalyst for catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation (transfer hydrogenation) of isopropanol (IPA) to acetone using aqueous medium in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as hydrogen source. The effect of parameters studied during transfer hydrogenation of IPA included the concentration of IPA, concentration of NaBH4, time of reaction and amount of Ni NWs. The study revealed that IPA could be transformed into acetone with 100% yield in only 1 min time of reaction. The catalyst was easy to recover and capable to be reused several times. The study shows that the catalytic transformation of IPA into acetone by synthesized Ni NWS in aqueous medium is environmental friendly in terms of recovery of catalyst, very fast and hence extremely economical.

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► Simple method was investigated for the fabrication of nickel nanowires (Ni NWs).
► l-methionine acted as capping as well as stabilizing agent for Ni NWs.
► Formed Ni NWs proved as catalysts for 100% conversion of isopropanol to acetone.