Hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene on a Pd/C catalyst doped with metal oxide nanoparticles

Pd/C catalysts doped with cerium oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by thermal decarboxylation in the presence of cetylsulfonyl acetate, and used in the hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene to give high yields of 2,2′-dichlorohydrazobenzene. It was found that the stability and activity of the Pd/C catalysts were significantly affected by doping with the nanosized metal oxides. The chemical structure of 2,2′-dichlorohydrazobenzene was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy.