Selective hydrogenation of m-dinitrobenzene to m-nitroaniline catalyzed by PVP-Ru/Al2O3

Selective hydrogenation of m-dinitrobenzene to m-nitroaniline (m-NA) catalyzed by polylvinylpyrrolidone stabilized Ru/Al2O3 (PVP-Ru/Al2O3) was studied experimentally. The effects of solvents, metal cation additives and reaction conditions were examined. The highest total yield of m-NA was obtained with 97.9% selectivity at 100% conversion when Sn4+ used as modifier (the molar ratio of m-DNB to catalyst was 477:1, the molar ratio of Sn4+ to ruthenium was 1:4) under suitable conditions.