Moving from surfactant-stabilized aqueous rhodium (0) colloidal suspension to heterogeneous magnetite-supported rhodium nanocatalysts: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance in hydrogenation reactions

Wet impregnation of pre-synthesized surfactant-stabilized aqueous rhodium (0) colloidal suspension on silica was employed in order to prepare supported Rh0 nanoparticles of well-defined composition, morphology and size. A magnetic core–shell support of silica (Fe3O4@SiO2) was used to increase the handling properties of the obtained nanoheterogeneous catalyst. The nanocomposite catalyst Fe3O4@SiO2-Rh0 NPs was highly active in the solventless hydrogenation of model olefins and aromatic substrates under mild conditions with turnover frequencies up to 143,000 h−1. The catalyst was characterized by various transmission electron microscopy techniques showing well-dispersed rhodium nanoparticles (∼3 nm) mainly located at the periphery of the silica coating. The heterogeneous magnetite-supported nanocatalyst was investigated in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene and compared to the previous surfactant-stabilized aqueous Rh0 colloidal suspension and various silica-supported Rh0 nanoparticles. Finally, the composite catalyst could be reused in several runs after magnetic separation.

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► Fe3O4-supported Rh0 nanoparticles were prepared by the wet impregnation of SiO2-coated Fe3O4 particles by pre-synthesized surfactant-stabilized aqueous rhodium (0) colloidal suspension.
► The composite catalyst was active in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene with TOF up to 143,000 h−1.
► The catalytic system can be reused in several runs after magnetic separation.