Au/Mo2N as a new catalyst formulation for the hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene in both liquid and gas phases

The batch liquid phase hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene over Mo2N resulted in the sole formation of p-chloroaniline. Incorporation of Au nanoparticles (mean size = 8 nm) enhanced hydrogen uptake with a four-fold increase in rate, retention of ultraselectivity with stability over repeated reaction cycles. Reaction exclusivity to p-chloroaniline extended to continuous gas phase operation where Au/Mo2N outperformed Au/Al2O3 as a benchmark. Under the same conditions, Pd/Mo2N was non-selective, generating nitrobenzene and aniline via combined hydrodechlorination and hydrogenation. These results demonstrate the viability of Au/Mo2N as a new catalyst formulation in selective substituted nitroarene hydrogenation.

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► Mo2N promotes selective hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene to p-chloroaniline.
► Reaction exclusivity is demonstrated in batch liquid and continuous gas operation.
► Incorporation of nano-scale Au (8 nm) with Mo2N increased hydrogen uptake.
► 100% selectivity achieved with Au/Mo2N whereas Pd/Mo2N is non-selective.
► Au/Mo2N delivered higher selective hydrogenation rate relative to Au/Al2O3.