NanoRu@hectorite: A heterogeneous catalyst with switchable selectivity for the hydrogenation of quinoline

•NanoRu@hectorite catalyzes the quinoline hydrogenation with switchable selectivity.•In water, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline is formed with yields >99%.•Decahydroquinoline is obtained with yields >99% in cyclohexane.

A versatile nano-structured catalyst composed of ruthenium nanoparticles intercalated in hectorite (nanoRu@hectorite) catalyzes the hydrogenation of quinoline (100 °C, 30–60 bar H2) with switchable selectivity: In water, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline is formed with yields >99%, while in cyclohexane the fully hydrogenated decahydroquinoline is obtained with yields >99%, the mean turnover frequencies being 222 h−1 and 89 h−1, respectively. The reaction in cyclohexane proceeds via both intermediates, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline.

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