Selective hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene over tin dioxide supported platinum–ruthenium bimetallic nanocatalysts without solvent

•Pre-formed Pt–Ru colloidal nanoparticles were used to prepare nearly monodisperse Pt–Ru/SnO2 supported catalysts.•The hydrogenation rate of o-CNB to o-CAN was as high as 2600 h−1 without using any solvent.•99.5% Selectivity to o-CAN at 100% conversion of o-CNB was achieved.

Colloidal platinum–ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles with 2.3 nm were synthesized in solution and then immobilized on tin dioxide powder to make a supported nanocatalyst (Pt–Ru/SnO2). The immobilized bimetallic nanoparticles had the same size and size distribution as the solution dispersed ones. Selective hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene to o-chloroaniline was performed over the as-prepared Pt–Ru/SnO2 nanocatalyst without using any solvent; 99.5% selectivity to o-chloroaniline at ∼100% conversion was achieved.

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